Thousands living with trauma: The invisible wounds of Israel’s Gaza war

On the second anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation — a historic event that shattered Israel’s long-standing myth of security and invincibility — several official Israeli institutions released new casualty reports. However, human rights organizations and independent observers say these figures are incomplete and heavily manipulated under state censorship.

The Israeli National Insurance Institute, which manages compensation for victims, disclosed on Monday that since October 7, 2023, it has provided assistance to over 80,000 people.

The institute registered 978 deaths, including 84 foreign nationals, and 33,983 cases of injury resulting in disability — among them 30,462 cases of mental disability, 1,592 physical, and 1,929 combined physical and psychological injuries.

More than 30,000 people have been diagnosed with psychological disorders. On October 7 alone, over 70,000 cases of trauma-related psychological distress were recorded, with another 7,200 cases added over the course of the war. During the brief 12-day conflict with Iran in June 2024, 1,176 severe mental health cases were also reported.

Despite Israel’s long-standing practice of censoring wartime casualty data, the Ministry of War admitted that 1,152 soldiers have been killed since October 7, including 466 in Gaza’s ground war. Analysts believe the real numbers are far higher due to strict military censorship.

Beyond physical casualties, experts warn of a deeper, long-lasting mental health crisis affecting soldiers and settlers alike — ranging from PTSD and depression to substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.

Reverse migration: A growing existential threat

The Al-Aqsa Flood operation has also triggered a demographic and social shock. Reports indicate a sharp rise in the number of Israelis leaving or planning to leave occupied territories.

According to censored official figures, 82,700 Israelis emigrated during 2024. A Haaretz poll in May found that 40% of Israelis are considering emigration, and 81% of those who already left are from the younger generation.

This phenomenon poses an existential challenge for Israel, which depends on immigration to maintain its demographic balance. Many of those leaving belong to vital sectors such as high-tech, threatening long-term economic stability.

A report by the Jewish Forward Foundation titled “A Growing Sense of Despair” noted collapsing trust in Israel’s future, declining civic participation, widening internal divisions, and weakening social cohesion. Communities facing mass emigration are experiencing isolation and a breakdown in essential public services such as education and healthcare.

Expanding academic boycotts

Another major fallout from Israel’s ongoing war is the surge in global academic boycotts. According to a July report by the Committee of Israeli University Presidents, since the start of the war, over 750 academic boycotts have been recorded worldwide — inflicting severe moral, financial, and scientific damage. In the same month, the European Commission discussed suspending Israel’s participation in the Horizon 2020 scientific research funding program.

Global backlash and declining legitimacy

The Washington Post reported that images of Gaza’s suffering — emaciated children, destroyed hospitals, and mourning families — have fueled unprecedented global outrage against Israel, especially in Europe.

These scenes have shattered decades of Israeli narrative control. “No one believes Israel’s version anymore,” the report noted. “The world now understands that those who claim to seek peace do not massacre children or starve civilians.”

Public sentiment across Western nations is shifting; people are re-examining the history of Zionism and questioning its moral foundations. Israel, once boasting of its impunity, now finds itself isolated — even among its closest allies — as Western societies face growing pressure to take a firm anti-Zionist stance before domestic unrest deepens further.