Israel War Impact: Israel is dealing with a sharp rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases and suicides among its soldiers following its nearly two-year-long military offensive in Gaza. The war began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel and has since expanded into a wider regional conflict.
Recent findings from Israel’s Defence Ministry and healthcare providers reveal the scale of the crisis within the military. These developments come as fighting continues in Gaza and Lebanon, while tensions with Iran remain high.
Israel War Impact: War Expanded Across Multiple Fronts
What started as a war in Gaza soon spread north, with regular cross-border exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon. As a result, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and reservists were deployed across both fronts, marking one of the most intense military periods in Israel’s history.
According to officials in Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli military action has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians in Gaza and 4,400 people in southern Lebanon. Israel, meanwhile, says over 1,100 of its service members have died since October 7.
The conflict has left much of Gaza in ruins. Its two million residents are struggling without proper housing, food, or access to basic healthcare.
Israel War Impact: Psychological Trauma on Both Sides
Palestinian mental health experts say people in Gaza are facing what they describe as “a volcano” of psychological trauma. Many civilians, especially children, are seeking treatment for issues such as night terrors, anxiety, and inability to concentrate.
At the same time, Israeli studies show the war has deeply affected the mental well-being of soldiers tasked with eliminating Hamas, rescuing hostages, and disarming Hezbollah.
Some of the most affected troops include those who were present during the Hamas attack on Israeli military bases on October 7, when militants also abducted around 250 hostages and took them into Gaza.
Israel War Impact: PTSD Cases Among Israeli Soldiers Surge
Israel’s Defence Ministry reports that PTSD cases among soldiers have increased by nearly 40% since September 2023. The ministry warns that this figure could rise by 180% by 2028.
Out of 22,300 military personnel currently being treated for war-related injuries, 60% are suffering from post-traumatic stress, according to official data.
One source of trauma, experts say, comes from “deep experiences of fear” and “being afraid to die”, both during deployments in Gaza and Lebanon and even after returning home.
Another major factor is moral injury the emotional damage caused when soldiers believe their actions violated their own moral values.
As psychologist Sidi explained, “A lot of soldiers split-second decisions are good decisions,” which they take under fire, “but some of them are not, and then women and children are injured and killed by accident, and living with the feeling that you have killed innocent people… is a very difficult feeling and you can’t correct what you have done.”
Israel War Impact: Israeli Soldiers Struggle to Adjust After Combat
Paul, a 28-year-old reservist and father of three, said the trauma followed him home. After serving in combat roles in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, he had to quit his job as a project manager at a global firm.
“The whistles of the bullets” stayed with him long after his return, he said. Even now, despite a slowdown in fighting, he remains constantly on edge. “I live that way every day,” Paul said.
Soldiers seeking government support for mental health issues must appear before a Defence Ministry assessment committee, which decides whether their trauma qualifies for official recognition. Mental health professionals say this process can take months and discourages many from asking for help.
The Defence Ministry says it provides immediate assistance once the evaluation process begins and has expanded support since the war started.
Israel War Impact: Suicide Attempts Rise Sharply
An Israeli parliamentary committee reported in October that 279 soldiers attempted suicide between January 2024 and July 2025, a significant rise compared to previous years. The report found that combat soldiers accounted for 78% of suicide cases in 2024.
Untreated trauma greatly increases the risk of suicide or self-harm, Sidi warned. “After October 7 and the war, the mental health institutions in Israel are overwhelmed completely, and a lot of people either can’t get therapy or don’t even understand the distress that they are feeling has to do with what they have experienced.”
Israel War Update: Conflict Continues, Risks Remain High
Israeli troops remain stationed in more than half of Gaza, where fighting has continued despite a US-backed truce in October. Since then, over 440 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed.
Israel also maintains a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon, while Lebanese forces work to disarm Hezbollah under a separate US-brokered agreement. In Syria, Israeli troops have expanded their presence in the country’s south following the removal of former leader Bashar al-Assad.
With tensions rising again with Iran and the US warning of possible intervention, Israel could soon face yet another violent confrontation, following last year’s 12-day war with Tehran.
