The Israeli regime has recorded more than 18,500 injuries among its forces since the start of its military campaign against the Gaza Strip, according to a report published Monday by Israeli Channel 12. The figures underscore the growing toll of nearly ten months of warfare, with a significant number of those wounded suffering from both physical and psychological trauma.
According to the report, at least 12,500 troops sustained physical injuries, while more than 10,000 others are dealing with post-traumatic stress and other psychological conditions, reflecting the intensity of combat and the deep mental strain within the ranks of the Israeli occupation forces.
The data revealed that 33% of the physical injuries involved the limbs, 13% affected the head, eyes, or ears, and 7% were related to the spine, neck, or back, which are injuries typically associated with high-intensity urban warfare and repeated exposure to explosions.
Majority of casualties from reserve units
The report noted that 65% of those injured belong to the reserve forces, 18% to the regular army, 10% to police and other security units, and 7% to permanent military personnel. Women accounted for 7% of the total number of wounded.
The breakdown illustrates the extensive military and psychological attrition experienced by the Israeli occupation forces, as the war in Gaza nears its tenth month and resistance operations continue across multiple fronts inside the Strip.
This comes as the Israeli occupation forces are facing a deepening crisis marked by a significant shortage of officers, particularly within its ground forces. According to a report by the Israeli newspaper Maariv on Monday, around 300 officer positions in platoon leadership roles remain unfilled.
Combat engineers, officers missing
This shortage is especially critical in the Combat Engineering Corps, where there is a lack of platoon leaders and teams specialising in engineering operations and explosive ordnance disposal.
Military analyst Avi Ashkenazi explained to Maariv that the army is encountering difficulty in persuading qualified soldiers to enter officer training programs.
“For the first time, the military is openly acknowledging the scale of the attrition,” he said. “The size of the army no longer matches the scope of its responsibilities.”
The current military manpower deficit includes an estimated 7,500 missing combat soldiers and 2,500 combat support troops, contributing to growing operational strain.
War casualties exacerbate shortages
Maariv also cited military sources who admitted that a large number of officers and commanders have been killed in the ongoing war, with hundreds more injured. Many of those injured have also yet to recover and return to duty.
“Large numbers of officers and commanders have fallen in the war,” the article reported.
The crisis is not confined to platoon and company levels. Commanders at higher ranks, including deputy battalion commanders and battalion commanders, are experiencing significant operational pressure. Many are working under increasingly complex battlefield conditions, further complicating leadership and coordination efforts across units.
