Yoav Gallant Archives - Page 5 of 9

6 Suicides Eke Mental Health Crisis in Israeli Army

CrossFireArabia
November 23, 2024

At least six Israeli soldiers have taken their own lives in recent months, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth revealed on Friday, citing severe psychological distress caused by prolonged wars in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon as the primary cause.

The investigation suggests the actual number of suicides may be higher, as the Israeli military has yet to release official figures, despite a promise to disclose them by the end of the year.

The report highlights a broader mental health crisis within the Israeli army. Thousands of soldiers have sought help from military mental health clinics or field psychologists, with approximately a third of those affected showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Yedioth Ahronoth:

At least 6 soldiers who fought in Gaza and Lebanon committed suicide in recent months, and the army refuses to reveal the real number of soldiers who committed/attempted suicide.

The data will reportedly be published at the end of the year. pic.twitter.com/xipPndJ3N8
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) November 22, 2024

According to the investigation, the number of soldiers suffering psychological trauma may exceed those with physical injuries from the war.

The daily cites experts as saying the full extent of this mental health crisis will become clear once military operations are completed and troops return to normal life.

In March, Lucian Tatsa-Laur, head of the Israeli military’s mental health department, told Haaretz that approximately 1,700 soldiers had received psychological treatment.

Multiple reports have since emerged indicating that thousands of troops are suffering from mental health issues owing to extended deployments in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Regional tension has escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 44,000 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack last year.

The second year of the genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with figures and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.

In a landmark move, the International Criminal Court on Thursday announced it had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes in Palestinian territories, including Gaza.

The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of the Gaza war.

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To be Arrested…

CrossFireArabia
November 22, 2024

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp confirmed that his government will arrest Israeli leaders if they enter the country following the ICC’s arrest warrants for them. 124 countries signed the Rome Statue of International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2002, which means all of these countries will arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter it.

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Crosetto: ‘…if Netanyahu, Gallant Come to Italy, we Will Have to Arrest Them’

CrossFireArabia
November 22, 2024

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on Thursday expressed reservations about the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant but confirmed that Italy would be obligated to enforce the warrants if they entered the country.

Speaking during a televised interview, Crosetto remarked that while he believes the ICC’s decision is “wrong,” as a signatory to the Rome Statute, Italy must comply with international law.

“Since we are a party to the ICC, if Netanyahu and Gallant come to Italy, we will have to arrest them. This is not a political decision but the enforcement of international legislation,” he stated according to Anadolu.

https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1859669502994334181

In a landmark move, the International Criminal Court on Thursday announced it had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over war crimes in Palestinian territories, including Gaza.

The warrants come as Israel’s genocidal offensive in Gaza recently entered its second year, having already killed some 44,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured over 103,000 others.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed a more cautious tone.

“We will review the content of the decision and the reasons behind it,” Tajani said, emphasizing that the ICC should maintain a strictly legal role, free from political influences.

“Together with our allies, we will assess what will happen and determine what actions to take and how to proceed.”

Tajani’s remarks provoked backlash from the opposition Five Star Movement (M5S), whose parliamentarians called his comments “shocking and shameful.”

In a joint statement, M5S members noted that the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell affirmed the binding nature of ICC decisions on EU member states.

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Knesset Turns Raucous Over Katz Appointment

CrossFireArabia
November 8, 2024

Members of the Israeli opposition and the ruling right-wing coalition government exchanged insults and curses, Thursday, during the swearing-in ceremony of Yisrael Katz as Minister of Defense, succeeding Yoav Galant, who was dismissed by the occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Knesset approved new government appointments in a rare session as Yisrael Katz was appointed Minister of Defense, and Gideon Sa’ar as Foreign Minister. This is in addition to the appointment of Ze’ev Elkin as a minister.

According to the English Jerusalem Post, the session witnessed the exchange of insults and attacks between Knesset members from all parties.

Ultimately, opposition members left the Knesset hall in protest of Galant’s dismissal, which was met with severe criticism and protests in Israel.

During Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s speech against the opposition, opposition leader Yair Lapid shouted at him, describing him as “poison, and a draft evader.”

While Likud MK Tali Gottlieb attacked Galant on social media after news of his dismissal broke out, she supported Netanyahu’s choice.

In total, 58 MKs supported the new appointments without protest, while the opposition walked out of the session in protest at Galant’s dismissal.

Netanyahu justified Galant’s dismissal, Tuesday, by citing a breakdown in trust, while his statements were said to be shaky and weak.

Galant has repeatedly called for a diplomatic solution to secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and has also called for the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men into military service.

This has angered Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox and far-right coalition partners, on whom he relies.

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Katz: Hardened Loyalist in Netanyahu’s Pocket

CrossFireArabia
November 6, 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the middle of a war slaughter on Gaza and south Lebanon. This is regarded as an unprecedented move especially during wartime.

He cites a “crisis of trust,” between the two men that has brewing long before the war after 7 October, 2023.

Netanyahu finally took the plunge and appointed in his place, Israel Katz amid public outrage within the occupation state and increasing involvement in war crimes in Palestine and Lebanon.

Israel Katz has stepped up and previously served as Israel’s Foreign Minister and was formerly criticized as being weak and ineffectual. But maybe this is what Netanyahu wants for Katz is already a hardened “Bibi supporters” who can obviously be controlled.