20,000 Israeli soldiers in rehab: Gaza war’s hidden toll

According to Al Jazeera, the Rehabilitation Center of the Israeli Ministry of War announced that the treatment of 20,000 Israeli army personnel wounded in the Gaza war is still ongoing.

The center further estimated that by 2028, the number of disabled veterans in the Israeli army will reach 100,000.

The Israeli daily Haaretz, quoting the Ministry of War, also reported that 55 percent of those injured in the Gaza war are suffering from psychological disorders.

Last month, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth wrote, citing Ministry of War data, that so far more than 10,000 soldiers have shown symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), of which 3,769 cases have been officially registered and acknowledged. The report added that this figure is expected to surpass 100,000 in less than two years, with at least half struggling with mental illnesses.

According to the report, in 2024, the Israeli army identified 1,600 soldiers as suffering from psychological disorders, including 693 active-duty soldiers, 144 permanent staff, 184 reservists, and around 500 discharged personnel.

These figures represent a stark contrast with previous wars. For example, in the 2014 war only 159 cases were recorded. Data also show that half of the new patients are under the age of 30, and the withdrawal of more than 12,000 soldiers from the labor market has created negative economic repercussions.