Israeli soldier commits suicide after returning from Gaza battles

OCCUPIED PALESTINE, Dec. 06 (YPA) – The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported a new incident in the “exhausted” ranks of the Israeli military involving the suicide of a soldier after returning from combat.

According to the report, the body of a reserve soldier was found, suspected to have died by committing a suicide.

The soldier’s wife testified that he had not received appropriate psychological treatment, which likely led to his suicide.

On Wednesday, the head of the so-called “National Council” for Suicide Prevention in the Israeli entity warned of a “mental health tsunami” and expressed concerns about an increase in suicides after the war ends.

Recent reports indicated a 40% rise in the number of people seeking help from crisis and mental health centers last year.

On November 22, Yedioth Ahronoth announced that at least six soldiers who had participated in long periods of fighting in Gaza and Lebanon over the past few months had committed suicide.

The paper added that the Israeli military is currently refusing to disclose the full number of soldiers who have died by suicide during the war, noting that the true psychological effects on the soldiers will only become evident after the war ends.

The paper also mentioned a rise in the number of soldiers seeking psychological treatment in recent weeks.

Earlier, Israeli security reports predicted a 172% increase in the number of soldiers suffering from psychological crises in the Israeli military by 2030, along with a 61% rise in psychological disabilities.

According to data released by the occupation ministry, the army’s rehabilitation department treated 62,000 people, including 11,000 with psychological injuries, before the war. However, it expects the number of disabled people to rise to 78,000 by the end of this year, including 15,000 with severe disabilities, and that this number will rise to 100,000 by 2030.

@E.Y.M