Israeli army recalling PTSD-affected troops amid recruitment crisis: Report
An Israeli media report reveals that a growing manpower shortage has prompted the military to recall soldiers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amid the regime's relentless offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Haaretz newspaper cited internal military concerns over personnel deficits and the increasing difficulty in maintaining active troop levels, especially amid the prolonged offensive in Gaza.
The newspaper further said that the Israeli military had begun enlisting reservists suffering from trauma and other psychological conditions, even if they were currently undergoing treatment.
One commander highlighted a sharp rise in PTSD cases and suicides among soldiers and reservists since October 7, 2023.
“Because our soldiers are not committed to fighting, we are forced to recruit individuals who are not in a stable mental state,” he said, adding, “We fight with what we have, even if we are certain their psychological conditions are unstable.”
Figures show rising suicide rates have raised alarm in military ranks. Two recently recalled soldiers committed suicide, further intensifying scrutiny of the Israeli military’s handling of mental health issues.
An Israeli study recently found that around 12 percent of reservist forces, who participated in the war in Gaza, had reported severe symptoms of PTSD, which significantly affects their ability to carry out their duties, making them unfit for war.
The developments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel plans to seize the entire besieged Gaza Strip.
The Hebrew-language Maariv daily recently said Netanyahu was expected to order an expansion of the ongoing onslaught on the besieged Palestinian region.
Israel has already expanded its ground aggression in Gaza, seeking to seize a large portion of the Palestinian territory amid the genocidal war.
Critics say the Israeli regime "is sending more soldiers into Gaza to fight in the same areas where battles have already taken place repeatedly."
In recent weeks, thousands of Israeli reservists have signed letters demanding that Netanyahu's regime stop the war in Gaza.
With Israel's campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza now into its 19th month, Israeli soldiers are increasingly reporting experiences of “war trauma, family issues, and psychological distress.”
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