‘Israeli’ rabbi-soldier takes his own life due to Gaza battles
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Erez Barsheshet, a 46-year-old ‘Israeli’ soldier, died by suicide in Kiryat Malakhi after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder linked to the military operations against Gaza.
Barsheshet, a father, took his own life in the southern ‘Israeli’ town.
His funeral was held Saturday evening after Shabbat at the local cemetery, attended by family, friends and acquaintances.
Reports describe him as a religious reservist who had confronted severe psychological strain from combat duty.
The case forms part of a broader pattern of mental health collapse among ‘Israeli’ forces following extended operations in Gaza.
‘Israeli’ Defense Ministry rehabilitation data cited in coverage indicate roughly 12,000 additional wounded from the military and security forces since the war began, bringing the total under care to about 74,000—a 20% rise in one year.
Of the new cases, around 43% (approximately 5,200) involve psychological reactions.
Multiple reports from ‘Israeli’ outlets have documented spikes in PTSD diagnoses, suicide attempts and completed suicides among reservists and discharged soldiers exposed to the prolonged ground campaign.
Official tallies and media tracking have pointed to dozens of service-related suicides since late 2023, with combat veterans frequently citing persistent trauma after returning from Gaza operations.
