Since October 2023, more than 50 Israeli soldiers have taken their own lives—an alarming rise compared to previous years. In 2022, 14 soldiers died by suicide, while 11 did so in 2021. This dramatic increase is raising concern among experts and the public. The most recent case was Ariel Meir Taman, a reservist who died by suicide on July 27 at his home in southern Israel.
This surge is linked closely to Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Mental health issues have always existed in the Israeli military, but experts say the current crisis is worsened by the extreme violence and moral weight of the conflict. Over 60,000 Palestinians, including at least 17,000 children, have reportedly died in under two years. Families are buried under rubble, and Gaza is left in ruins.
Dr. Seyda Eruyar, a trauma expert at Ibn Haldun University, explains that many soldiers are suffering from moral injury. Unlike PTSD, which comes from fear and trauma, moral injury is born from guilt, shame, and emotional conflict. It happens when someone violates their moral code or witnesses actions they find deeply wrong.
The Israeli army usually avoids disclosing full details, calling many of these deaths "suspected suicides." But the pattern is growing clearer. Most victims are reservists sent back into service in Gaza, some even with known PTSD conditions.
Israel's public broadcaster KAN reports nearly 3,770 soldiers are now diagnosed with PTSD, suggesting a deepening mental health emergency.
Source: https://trt.global/world/article/de3ee750065b