20 Israeli soldiers die by suicide since the start of the year

The number of suicides within the Israeli military has risen to 20 soldiers since the beginning of 2026, following the death of a reservist who was found at his home in Tel Aviv after serving hundreds of days during the war, according to Haaretz.

The incident comes amid a rise in suicides among Israeli military personnel. Twenty-one cases were recorded in 2024 and 22 in 2025, the highest annual toll in 15 years, according to Israeli reports.

Published figures also indicate 12 additional cases among former service members or those no longer on active duty in 2026, bringing the combined total for both groups to 32. However, the two categories must be distinguished when calculating the toll.

These figures coincide with a growing mental health crisis among Israeli military personnel. The number receiving psychological treatment has risen from approximately 11,000 to 31,000 within two years, amid reports linking their deteriorating mental health to the impact of the war and prolonged periods of military service.