“Tsunami of suicides”: “Israeli” parliament warns of rising suicide trend among soldiers

An “Israeli” parliament subcommittee convened today to address a sharp rise in suicides within the military, particularly among reservists since the events of Oct. 7, 2023.

The meeting, led by MK Elazar Stern, highlighted demands from bereaved families for better psychological support and recognition for the soldiers, warning of an impending "tsunami" of mental health crises.

A grieving family member shared a story of her brother, Assaf Dagan, who committed suicide. According to his sister, Neta, Dagan had repeatedly sought help, and his mother had warned a senior commander that he might take his life.

The military presented new data on the issue. So far in 2025, there have been 16 recorded suicides, following 21 in 2024, 17 in 2023, and 14 in 2022.

The increase is most pronounced among reserve service members due to extensive mobilization since the war began.

MK Kati Sheetrit warned the committee, "We are facing a tsunami." She called for transparency and the creation of a committee to investigate the rising trend of suicides.