US Soldier Commits Suicide After Serving in Gaza
Heba
- August 12, 2026
Hebrew sources reported, Tuesday soldier William (Will) Shakin, an American citizen who volunteered for the Israeli army and fought in the Gaza Strip, committed suicide, Monday. in New York City. Israel’s Channel 7 reported Shakin suffered from severe psychological distress following his military service. It noted he arrived in Israel after the events of 7 October, 2023 and joined the Israeli army through the “Mahal” program for foreign volunteers. Shakin was assigned to the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade, in the Gaza Strip. During the fighting, he lost several of his comrades before his mental health deteriorated. In a related incident, Israeli sources announced Monday an Israeli soldier committed suicide inside a military base in southern Israel (occupied Palestine) the previous night. Haaretz reported 18 suicides have been recorded in the Israeli army since the beginning of 2026. According to a previous report published by the newspaper, 22 Israeli soldiers committed suicide while on active duty in 2025, the highest rate recorded by the occupation army in 15 years. Israeli reports in recent months have indicated a link between the rise in suicides among soldiers and the psychological repercussions of the ongoing Israeli war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 8, 2023 according to Quds Press.
