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IDF Soldiers

Invisible Wounds Haunt IDF’s Gaza Veterans as War Triggers Wave of Psychological Suffering

As the war enters its third year, the army has tracked dozens of suicides among service members and a surge of applications for recognition of war-related mental illness. Veterans grappling with PTSD have maintained an encampment outside the Knesset, pressing for faster care and long-term support. Their stories point to traumas carried home from Gaza and to the steep human costs borne by soldiers and families.

Clinicians and advocates describe a system racing to expand services: more treatment slots, improved benefits, and streamlined recognition processes. Even so, many say the gaps remain painful—wait times, stigma, and the challenge of returning to ordinary life while the conflict grinds on. Families of the fallen emphasize that timely intervention and follow-up can save lives.

The debate over resources and responsibility echoes across Israeli society. Policymakers face the task of funding comprehensive mental health care while sustaining operational readiness. For veterans and their loved ones, the need is immediate: accessible therapy, community support, and hope.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Healer of Israel, bind up the brokenhearted and comfort those who mourn. Strengthen veterans, families, and caregivers; shorten wait times for therapy; and provide effective treatment that restores minds and lives. Let Your peace guard the hearts of all who have carried the weight of battle.”