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Israel's Defense Ministry Rehabilitation Department has observed more than 20,000 wounded service members since Oct. 7, 2023, with mental health casualties comprising 56% of cases and soldier suicides reaching 18 in 2025 alone, according to Israeli military and media reports.
The department published data on Sunday, marking two years since the start of what Israel calls "Operation Swords of Iron," revealing that half of the wounded Israeli soldiers are under age 30, 92% are male, and 64% are reservists.
Approximately 45% are dealing with physical injuries, while 56% face psychological reactions.
The rehabilitation department's budget has increased 53% over the past two years to 8.3 billion shekels ($2.49B), with 4.1 billion ($1.2B) allocated for mental health treatment.
The department estimates it will treat 100,000 wounded Israeli soldiers by 2028, including 50,000 psychological casualties, according to the official report.
9% of casualties are classified as moderate to severely injured, with 56 Israeli soldiers defined as having the most severe, with over a 100% disability rating.
Twenty-four wounded have 100% disability, 168 are dealing with complex head injuries requiring close supervision, 16 are wheelchair-bound, and 99 are amputees who have been fitted with advanced prosthetics, including adaptations for sports and recreational activities.
The Israeli department reports receiving an average of 1,000 new casualties monthly from the ongoing conflict. In the past year, Israeli teams were dispatched to 251 incidents requiring mental health crisis intervention.
An Israeli soldier from the Golani Brigade was found dead on Sept. 1 at a northern military base, bringing the number of military suicides since the start of 2025 to 18, Israeli public broadcaster KAN and Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
"I'm 21 years old, and my dream is to take a bullet in the middle of my forehead. I'm a walking corpse. I tried to commit suicide, and all my hands are cut. Why? I fought for this damned country," a Golani Brigade soldier told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, according to Israeli media reports.
"I lost 23 friends, three days ago, a soldier committed suicide. I see corpses before my eyes," the Israeli soldier added.
Military suicides among Israeli soldiers have increased significantly since the operation to occupy the Gaza Strip began.
The Israeli army recorded 11 suicides in 2021, 14 in 2022, 17 in 2023, and 21 in 2024, with 12 of those being reservists. July 2025 alone saw seven military suicides, the Israeli media outlet Haaretz reported.
Six soldiers from the Givati Brigade were sentenced to prison for refusing to return to Gaza operations despite informing commanders about their poor psychological condition, Israeli media reported.
Three soldiers received 10-day prison sentences for insubordination, two received suspended sentences, and one awaits military court proceedings.
A 31-year-old reserve soldier was found dead in his home on his wedding day in Rehovot, central Israel, in what the Israeli media outlet Maariv newspaper reported as a suicide.
The rehabilitation department faces severe staff shortages, with only one rehabilitation worker for every 750 patients, according to reports.
Israeli officials identified the need to simplify bureaucracy due to legislation that doesn't meet current requirements and to update medical committees and disability percentage determinations.
According to another Israeli media outlet, Israel Hayom, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich established a joint public committee to treat wounded soldiers and those needing rehabilitation.
In June alone, over 6,000 Israeli soldiers sought psychological support from the Israeli Emotional First Aid Service (ERAN), the organization reported.
Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin declined to provide 2025 suicide statistics at a July 17 press conference, saying only that incidents were being "examined and investigated."
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