Wave of resignations exposes deep strain in Israeli army

According to Channel 7, Israeli military officials presented a report this morning (Wednesday) to the Human Resources Unit of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, warning of a major crisis inside the military. The report states that around 600 mid- and high-ranking officers have requested resignation and discharge before the end of their service terms.

This statistic has triggered concerns among Israeli leadership, especially as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considers intensifying confrontations with Lebanon and other fronts – a move that could accelerate the resignation domino effect within the army.

A senior military commander revealed that 300 officers have formally requested retirement, while another 300 have expressed interest in doing so, though their cases remain pending within the army.

The Israeli military has acknowledged that the retirement of hundreds of officers was suspended during the Gaza war, forcing many to continue long beyond their expected service periods.

Amir Wadmani, head of the committee’s Human Resources Division, stated that Israeli soldiers are suffering severe psychological strain due to the Gaza war. He noted that the situation has deteriorated to the point where the number of officers seeking psychological and psychiatric assistance has risen sharply. The army is now attempting to fill the gaps by recruiting new lower-rank personnel.

Similarly, Elazar Stern – Knesset member and former head of military personnel – said that the Israeli army is suffering from a deep crisis, adding that "this is no longer a time for political games between the coalition and the opposition." He argued that army officers are being targeted and neglected by Netanyahu’s coalition, which is allocating billions of dollars to the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community who refuse to serve in the army, leaving the burden of war on the active-duty soldiers.

Meanwhile, according to Israel’s Channel 12, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir admitted in a closed meeting that the severe manpower shortage and growing wave of resignations have forced the military to fill command gaps by promoting inexperienced officers.

In another version of the report, Channel 12 presented even more alarming figures, suggesting that the army is facing structural collapse on the eve of new crises that Netanyahu appears set on provoking.

According to the network, many permanent-service officers of various ranks have declared that they no longer wish to continue serving due to the growing strain, mental fatigue from the prolonged Gaza war, and heightened tensions in northern occupied Palestine. The crisis has expanded to affect all branches and ranks of the Israeli officer corps.

Senior officers have also begun questioning the effectiveness of continuing the Gaza war. Internal opposition among Israelis to some of Netanyahu’s military policies in the Strip is increasing, and the army is under mounting pressure due to ongoing domestic protests and political confrontation over Netanyahu’s strategy of escalation.

At the same time, Haredi parties are pushing legislation in the Knesset to expand exemptions from mandatory military service, threatening to collapse Netanyahu’s coalition if the law is not passed.

This wave of officer resignations comes as the Israeli military faces a growing mental-health crisis, including rising suicide rates among soldiers in recent months. Reports indicate that the phenomenon has intensified since the start of the Gaza war and has continued despite the cease-fire. Israeli experts warn that, if the situation continues unchanged, the Israeli army may witness its highest suicide rates in two decades.