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Get The AJN Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up A report published by the Knesset Research and Information Centre on Tuesday revealed that between January 2024 and July 2025, 279 Israel Defence Forces soldiers attempted to take their own lives. The report, prepared at the request of far-left Hadash-Ta’al lawmaker Ofer Cassif, found that for every soldier who died by suicide, seven additional suicide attempts were recorded. According to the report, combat soldiers made up 78 per cent of all suicide cases in Israel in 2024, a sharp rise from previous years – the rate hovered between 42 per cent and 45 per cent from 2017 to 2022, and stood at just 17 per cent in 2023. In total, 124 soldiers died by suicide between 2017 and July 2025, the report found. Of that number, 68 per cent were conscripts, 21 per cent were in active reserve service, and 11 per cent were career soldiers. The Knesset report found that just 17 per cent of the soldiers who died by suicide over the past two years had met with a mental health officer in the two months before their deaths. The increase in suicides and attempted suicide has been linked to the surge in reservist mobilisation throughout the war following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which drew tens of thousands of troops back into active service. Most of the data was supplied by the IDF Medical Corps’ mental health centre, as well as from discussions held in various Knesset committees. The report clarified that the figures referred only to soldiers serving at the time of their death or attempt – whether in regular or reserve service – and did not include veterans who took their own lives after completing military duty. An internal military investigation in August of this year found that most of the recent suicides among soldiers were the result of psychological trauma from the war, including prolonged deployments in combat zones, witnessing harrowing scenes and the loss of comrades. Following the internal probe, the IDF said it would step up its measures to address mental health challenges. This was reported to include plans to expand training for commanders to help them detect signs of distress in their troops, and significantly increasing the number of mental health officers. Cassif, who requested the report, warned in response to its findings on Tuesday that the “suicide epidemic” was likely only going to get worse in the coming months. “There is nothing more valuable than a human life,” he said. “The suicide epidemic, which will likely worsen now that the war is over, requires the creation of real support systems for soldiers, and above all, bringing about an end to the wars and making true peace.” “A government that sends its soldiers to war and captivity and abandons them is one that fights against them, not one that fights against war and crime,” Cassif added.TIMES OF ISRAEL If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline – 13 11 14 – lifeline.org.au Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 – suicidecallbackservice.org.au Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 – beyondblue.org.au Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 – kidshelpline.com.au MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78 – mensline.org.au
