‘Israeli’ soldier dies by suicide after fighting in Gaza

‘Israeli’ soldier Master Sgt. (res.) Uriel Molto Getahon, 24-year-old, died by suicide last Thursday while not on active duty, according to Hebrew news outlet YNET.

“Our soldiers can return home physically healthy, but carry deep wounds inside them that no one sees,” one of his relatives said, regarding the consequences of the assault on Gaza.

An ‘Israeli’ military spokesperson said that, under the framework of a committee in cooperation with the Defense Ministry, an initial review found that the circumstances of Getahon’s death may be connected to his military service.

The number of ‘Israeli’ soldiers who committed suicide has risen sharply after the events of October 7.

Official data show about 17 suicides in 2023 (including seven after Oct. 7), 21 in 2024, and 21–22 in 2025—the highest annual total in about 15 years.

By late July 2026, at least 16 active-duty soldiers had already died.

From 2017 through mid-2025, 124 active-duty soldiers (mandatory service, career, and active reserves) took their own lives.

In 2024, combat soldiers accounted for 78% of suicides, a sharp jump from the 42–45% range in earlier years.

Reservists also form a larger share of cases, consistent with the massive call-ups of hundreds of thousands of reservists for extended assaults on Gaza, Lebanon, and other fronts.

The numbers understate the full picture because official military statistics generally cover only those still in active service.

Separate tallies and reports indicate at least more than a dozen former soldiers who participated in the war later died by suicide after discharge.