Two Israeli Female Soldiers Commit Suicides Days Within Each Other
Israeli soldiers continue to commit suicide at an alarming rate. In its latest report, Haaretz, an Israeli daily, reveals that suicides in the Israeli army is becoming a disturbing phenomenon, coinciding with periods of the extended military service of Israeli soldiers whether in Gaza and/or southern Lebanon.
The newspaper argues this is increasing psychological pressure on soldiers and comes amid the Israeli government’s ongoing failure to achieve its stated war aims.
The newspaper reported that a female Israeli soldier from the Bar-Lass Battalion committed suicide, Tuesday morning, inside a military base in southern occupied Palestine. She was found in critical condition and taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Haaretz added another female soldier from the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) committed suicide last Sunday inside the Glilot military base near Ramat HaSharon. The newspaper noted that the soldier held a classified position within the unit. The names of both female soldiers were withheld.
The newspaper explained that the Israeli military police have launched investigations into the circumstances of both incidents, and the results of the investigations will be referred to the military prosecution for review and appropriate action.
According to data tracked by Haaretz, at least 16 active-duty soldiers in the Israeli army committed suicide since the beginning of this year, based on official army announcements. The newspaper suggests the actual number is likely to be higher.
Haaretz also reported obtaining data indicating that nine additional soldiers who participated in the war committed suicide, though their cases were not officially announced due to the end of their active duty in the Israeli army. These suicides occurred between the end of 2025 and the present date.
Haaretz confirmed that this data points to a continued upward trend in suicide rates in the Israeli military and security establishment; this is a trend that has become clearly evident after the outbreak of the war on 7 October, 2023.
This increase in suicides is attributed to the prolonged war, the increased burden of military service, and the constant field and psychological pressures faced by soldiers. This has sparked debate within Israeli circles about the impact of the extended war on the mental health of army and security personnel as reported in Quds Press.