Approximately 30,000 Israeli soldiers have reached out to a mental health hotline since the eruption of conflict in the Gaza Strip on October 7, as per statements from the army reported by Anadolu Agency.
According to the military, around 85 percent of the soldiers who sought psychological assistance have returned to active duty. However, about 200 soldiers were discharged from service due to the psychological challenges they experienced during the conflict.
In response to concerns about the potential development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among troops as a consequence of the Gaza war, the Israeli army’s Medical Corps is set to open a new mental health center for soldiers on Thursday. This facility will include a clinic specifically dedicated to treating PTSD among military personnel, the army announced.
On February 2, Yekhiel Levechitz, the head of the army’s clinical department for mental illnesses, stated that approximately 3,000 soldiers had undergone evaluations by mental health specialists since October 7.
The conflict in the Gaza Strip was initiated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, according to Tel Aviv, resulting in nearly 1,200 fatalities, as claimed by Israel. However, investigations by Haaretz revealed that many of the reported casualties were caused by Israeli military actions.
The subsequent Israeli offensive led to the deaths of nearly 29,954 Palestinians and left over 70,000 injured, alongside extensive damage and shortages of essential supplies. As a result, 85 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced internally, facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, while 60 percent of the enclave’s infrastructure has been either damaged or destroyed, according to the United Nations.
Israel is facing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, with an interim ruling issued in January demanding that Tel Aviv cease genocidal acts and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
