JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL

A total of 279 Israeli soldiers have attempted suicide over the course of 18 months amid Tel Aviv’s war on the Gaza Strip, official data showed on Wednesday.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said a new report by the Knesset Research and Information Center showed "worrying data regarding suicide attempts among Israeli soldiers."

The data highlighted suicide attempts between January 2024 and July 2025, noting that 12% of these attempts were very serious, 88% were moderate, and 36 of them resulted in death.

According to the report, 124 Israeli soldiers have died by suicide since 2017 until July 2025, with 68% serving compulsory military service, 21% being reservists, and 11% on permanent duty.

The report indicated a significant increase in suicide cases among reservists since 2023, linking this to an increase in the number of active-duty soldiers since the outbreak of the Gaza war.

“The suicide epidemic, which is expected to increase with the end of the war, requires establishing real support systems for soldiers, working to end wars, and achieving real peace,” said Ofer Cassif, a far-left member of the Knesset.

“The government that sends its soldiers to war and leaves them to face the consequences alone is working against them,” added Cassif, who called for the report to be prepared.

Israel has killed more than 68,500 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 170,000 others in attacks in Gaza since October 2023.

The deadly war came to a halt under a ceasefire deal that took effect on Oct. 10 under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.