Psychological crisis spreads across Israel after more than two years of conflict
Simon Speakman Cordall
A wave of psychological trauma is gripping Israel after more than two years of ongoing conflicts, with reports showing a dramatic rise in PTSD, suicide rates, and social stress. Officials and experts warn of brutalization and radicalization, as trust in institutions erodes and violence spreads.
After more than two years of continuous fighting — from Israel's military campaign in Gaza to strikes on Iran, Lebanon, and Syria — analysts and domestic researchers conclude that Israel is being shaped by collective psychological trauma.
A recent survey by Maccabi Healthcare Services found that about one-third of Israelis believe they need professional mental health support. Among former military personnel, the situation is even more severe. In January, Israel's Defense Ministry reported a nearly 40% increase in PTSD cases among soldiers since September 2023, with projections of a 180% rise by 2028.
Israeli media report the government has not released figures on soldiers discharged for mental health issues in the same period, despite legal requirements to do so.
Earlier this month, the Magen David Adom emergency service launched its own mental health hotline after recording a 45% surge in calls, most linked to stress from the prolonged wars.
According to The Jerusalem Post in February, suicide rates across society rose sharply, especially in the military, with 78% of soldier suicides in 2024 related to operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
In late May, Israeli President Isaac Herzog acknowledged a rising trend of violence in Israeli society, including attacks by illegal settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank and against Christians. At an awards ceremony, he warned: “A terrible process is creeping in — a process of brutalization. It is slow but alarming and threatens to enter the mainstream of Israeli society.”
Mental health expert Tuly Flint, an Israeli veteran, said the events of October 7, 2023 shattered people's sense of security and caused widespread trauma. “Trust in society, the government, and institutions collapsed. Some have turned to right-wing politics or reacted more harshly to threats,” he said.
A poll by news site N12 of first-time Jewish voters showed that 46% of those aged 18-21 believe the October 7 events were due to “betrayal from within.” Most respondents belong to the most conservative and religious generation in Israel's history.
Sociology professor Yehouda Shenhav-Shahrabani argued violence has been inherent to Israel since its founding in 1948, and the October 7 events only fueled existing trends. He cited writer Elias Khoury's view: “Israelis need to experience defeat to become more humane.” However, after October 7, according to Shenhav-Shahrabani, “Israelis have become more fascist.”
Professor Zahava Solomon of Tel Aviv University, who has studied trauma for 40 years, noted trauma can push a society to become strong, aggressive, or seek negotiation. For Israel, Holocaust trauma has deeply ingrained a sense of absolute victimhood, carrying “severe consequences” for the future, especially regarding Palestinians.
Flint, who directly handles the aftermath of collective trauma, concluded: “There is no cure. Only recovery. Once you cross that threshold, it's over.”
