A report by the Knesset’s Research and Information Center revealed alarming figures regarding suicide within the ranks of the Israeli army. Between January 2024 and July 2025, 279 suicide attempts were documented, meaning that for every soldier who took their life during this period, seven additional soldiers attempted suicide.
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According to the report, published by Israel’s Kan Bet Radio, the army began systematically collecting data on suicide attempts in 2024. Of the cases, 12% were classified as severe, while 88% were considered moderate.
The report also noted that since 2017 through July 2025, 124 soldiers committed suicide, with 68% being conscripts, 21% reserve soldiers, and 11% career soldiers. There was a marked increase in suicide cases among reservists since 2023, linked to expanded mobilizations during the recent war.
Regarding combat soldiers, their share among all suicides jumped from 17% in 2023 to 78% in 2024, highlighting the profound psychological impact of frontline military operations.
Rising Psychological Crisis in the Army
Only 17% of the soldiers who committed suicide had met with a mental health officer in the two months preceding the incident, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the army’s psychological support system.
Knesset member Ofer Kasif called for the establishment of real support systems for soldiers and an end to wars that push them toward suicide, asserting that the government "abandons its soldiers after sending them into conflicts."
Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir acknowledged during a high-command conference at Palmachim Base that mental health is a “real challenge,” adding that thousands of soldiers are receiving treatment and that commanders must remain vigilant in handling these cases.
Observers say the report reflects a growing psychological crisis within the Israeli army, revealing the strain on the home front and deteriorating soldier morale amid ongoing wars and the depletion of the occupation’s human resources.
