279 IOF Soldiers Attempt Suicide, Report Reveals Deep Psychological Collapse
The findings paint a stark picture: the Israeli military — long marketed as a symbol of strength — is imploding under the weight of its own aggression and occupation policies
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM — A newly-released report by the Knesset Research and Information Center exposes a severe and escalating mental breakdown within the Israeli military, with 279 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers attempting suicide between January 2024 and July 2025 amid the ongoing war and occupation campaign.
The findings, requested by Hadash-Ta’al lawmaker Ofer Cassif, show a disturbing pattern: for every soldier who died by suicide, seven others attempted to take their own lives.
The figures point to a deep psychological fracture within Israeli forces as the military continues its aggression and prolonged deployments.
Combat Troops Overwhelmingly Affected
The report reveals that 78% of all suicide cases in 2024 were combat soldiers, a staggering spike from previous years when the figure hovered between 42% and 45%.
This collapse comes after the mass mobilization triggered by the October 7, 2023 events, dragging thousands of reservists back into front-line duty and intensifying the strain on troops engaged in Israel’s brutal military campaign.
Years-Long Trend of Decline Inside IOF Ranks
According to the Knesset data:
124 Israeli soldiers died by suicide between 2017 and July 2025
68% were conscripts
21% active reservists
11% career officers
Despite the scale of the crisis, only 17% of the soldiers who died by suicide in the last two years had seen a mental-health officer within two months of their death — underscoring the Israeli military’s failure to address the internal collapse of its forces.
Psychological Collapse Linked to War Trauma and Aggression
An internal IOF review found that recent suicides stemmed from psychological trauma inflicted by Israel’s own war policies — including continuous deployment to occupied territories, witnessing destruction and death, and the loss of fellow troops.
The mounting failures have pushed the IDF to announce plans to expand mental-health staff and train commanders to detect psychological distress — a belated acknowledgment of a crisis long ignored.
Political Reaction: Admission of a Breaking System
Cassif warned of a “suicide epidemic” worsening as the war drags on, saying:
“A government that sends its soldiers to war and captivity and abandons them is one that fights against them.”
The report further emphasizes that the data does not include veterans who killed themselves after leaving military service — indicating that the real toll is even higher.
A System Cracking Under Its Own Violence
The findings paint a stark picture: the Israeli military — long marketed as a symbol of strength — is imploding under the weight of its own aggression and occupation policies.
As Israel continues its military path, its forces are suffering unprecedented psychological and moral breakdown, fraying a system that relies on perpetual war and domination.
This internal collapse continues to intensify with every passing month of Israel’s campaign — a crisis created by a state that prioritizes war over human life, including the lives of its own troops. (PW)