“Mental Illness” affects thousands of Israeli soldiers due to the Gaza War
Serious psychological traumas have begun to manifest among some Israeli soldiers due to the war on Gaza, which erupted on October 7, 2023.
The mental health department in the Israeli army expresses concern about the reservists returning to civilian life, stating that they are worried about “functional difficulties and the situation where daily life becomes meaningless.”
Israeli newspapers revealed that around 1,600 soldiers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since the start of the war on Gaza, and approximately 3,000 soldiers have sought assistance from the Israeli army’s mental health helpline due to symptoms of stress and anxiety.
The Israeli news site “Walla” reported that “psychological symptoms from fighting in Gaza have appeared in at least 1,600 Israeli soldiers since the start of the ground operation.”
According to the report, “symptoms can occur during or after the activity, and soldiers may experience, among other things, rapid heartbeat, sweating, sudden increase in blood pressure, uncontrollable body shaking, confusion, and inability to move.”
It continued: “If the symptoms persist for more than 4 weeks, the soldier’s condition may deteriorate into severe post-traumatic stress disorder,” adding that “about 250 soldiers have been discharged from service due to continued symptoms of combat stress reaction.”
