'Israeli' reserve officer commits suicide amid psychological trauma from Gaza operations

• An 'Israeli' reserve officer reportedly died by suicide after serving in Gaza.
• The officer suffered from severe psychological distress linked to military operations.
• 'Israeli' military data shows rising suicide rates among soldiers.

An 'Israeli' reserve officer from the Givati Brigade, identified as Thomas Edzgoscus, reportedly died by suicide on Thursday after experiencing significant psychological distress related to his participation in military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The 28-year-old reportedly faced what the daily Israel Hayom described as “a mental battle or due to post-traumatic stress disorder, tied to his involvement in the fighting in Israeli settlements around Gaza on October 7, 2023, and later during ground operations inside the enclave.”

Edzgoscus had posted on social media that he “could no longer continue living” and felt “destroyed and lost,” though he did not provide additional details about his circumstances.

Official 'Israeli' figures released at the end of October revealed 279 suicide attempts among military personnel over an 18-month period, with 36 soldiers dying by suicide during the same timeframe. A recent army review linked most cases to the intense and traumatic conditions faced by troops deployed in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Although a ceasefire was implemented on October 10, 2023, 'Israel' has reportedly violated it repeatedly, resulting in hundreds of additional casualties. Access to essential supplies, including food and medicine, continues to be restricted for the territory’s 2.4 million residents, according to Gaza’s government media office.

Since October 2023, 'Israeli' attacks in Gaza have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 171,000 others.