One suicide recorded among the occupying army, raising the total number of suicides to 18 since the start of the war on Gaza

SadaNews - The Israeli army found a soldier serving in the "Golani" Brigade dead today, Monday, as a result of his suicide inside a military base in northern Israel.

The soldier had enlisted about a year and a half ago and participated in the fighting in the Gaza Strip during the genocide war that Israel has been waging against the territory for 696 days.

The military police reported that it has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, and the results will later be submitted to the military prosecution. The soldier's family has been informed of his death.

According to army data, this case adds to the 18 soldiers who have committed suicide since the beginning of this year, a number that exacerbates concerns about a rising wave that began with the outbreak of the war on Gaza.

In mid-August, a reserve officer committed suicide in a forest near Tiberias in northern Israel, using a fragmentation grenade, after taking part in combat rounds while suffering from psychological disorders.

According to Israeli data, about seven soldiers committed suicide during the last three months of 2023 alone, coinciding with the start of the war.

In 2024, 21 suicide cases were recorded alone, before at least 19 more cases were recorded since the beginning of this year.

These numbers show an unprecedented jump compared to the last ten years, which recorded an annual average of about 13 suicide cases.

The army attributes this increase to the significant rise in the number of soldiers called up for service, especially among reserve forces.

Last July, the head of the army's human resources department announced the formation of a committee to examine the support provided to discharged soldiers and reservists, following the suicide of a soldier after participating in a long combat round.

Testimonies from families of some of the soldiers who committed suicide indicate that the scenes of war and violent combat experiences played a crucial role in deteriorating their mental health and driving them to make the decision to end their lives.

However, army data show clear gaps, as it does not include soldiers who completed their service and then committed suicide.

Media reports indicate that at least 13 soldiers committed suicide after their discharge since the war began, including six since the beginning of this year.

Organizations concerned with treating those affected by post-traumatic stress disorders have reported that the actual number is much higher, as many cases remain outside the scope of official documentation.

Estimates suggest that most of these soldiers experienced severe trauma while participating in the war or in previous confrontations.

In August alone, seven suicide cases were recorded among soldiers, including three in regular service, a reserve officer, and three others who committed suicide after their discharge.