Israeli soldiers returning from Gaza are grappling with severe psychological trauma, with some tragically taking their own lives after experiencing horrors that they describe as unimaginable to the outside world. Their accounts offer a grim insight into the brutal reality of Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza and the profound mental toll the violence is having on soldiers serving on the front lines.
In testimonies shared with CNN, soldiers returning from Gaza recounted the terrifying realities of their deployment. Some revealed that troops were forced to "run over" both dead and living Palestinians "in the hundreds." Many soldiers have reported being unable to eat meat after their return, as the sight of it triggers traumatic memories of the carnage they witnessed in Gaza. "When you see a lot of meat outside, and blood... both ours and theirs, it really affects you when you eat," one soldier explained to CNN.
Eliran Mizrahi, a 40 year old reservist, is among the soldiers who tragically took their own lives after serving in Gaza. Mizrahi was deployed on October 8 last year, operating a 62 ton D-9 bulldozer, a heavily armored vehicle designed for use in war zones. His friend and fellow bulldozer operator, Guy Zaken, recounted the harrowing experience they shared: "We saw very, very, very difficult things. Things that are difficult to accept." Mizrahi returned from his deployment deeply affected, displaying severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as anger, insomnia, sweating, and social withdrawal. His family reported that he repeatedly expressed that only those who served alongside him could truly understand the horrors he had witnessed. "He saw a lot of people die," his mother said. "Maybe he even killed someone."
The Israeli army is currently facing an unprecedented mental health crisis within its ranks. According to the Israeli Defense Ministry's rehabilitation division, around 1,000 soldiers are being removed from combat roles every month, with approximately 35 percent reporting mental health struggles. It is projected that by the end of the year, 14,000 soldiers will require treatment, with 40 percent expected to face significant mental health challenges.
Ahron Bregman, a political scientist at King's College London and a former Israeli soldier, explained that Gaza presents unique psychological challenges due to its urban nature and the prolonged nature of the conflict. "How can you put your children to bed when, you know, you saw children killed in Gaza?" he asked, highlighting the lasting impact the violence has on soldiers' mental health.
Bulldozer operators Mizrahi are among those most directly exposed to the devastation of the Gaza operation. Bregman explained that these soldiers often witness death firsthand and are tasked with clearing the bodies of those killed. "What they see is dead people, and they clear them with the debris," he told CNN. "They go over them."
The suicide crisis in Israel extends beyond the military, with over 500 people taking their lives each year and more than 6,000 attempting suicide annually. The Israeli health ministry acknowledges that these figures may be underreported by as much as 23 percent, suggesting the true scale of the crisis is even more severe. Within the military, suicide was reported as the leading cause of death among soldiers in 2021, with at least 11 soldiers dying by suicide that year.
The full extent of Mizrahi's PTSD came to light amid controversy when the Israeli army initially refused to grant him a military burial. The decision was later reversed following a public outcry.
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