Two female Israeli soldiers have died by suicide in separate incidents, bringing the number of active-duty Israeli military personnel who have died by suicide in 2026 to at least 16, according to a report by Haaretz cited by Anadolu Agency.
One soldier, who served in the Bardelas Battalion, was found injured at a military base in southern Israel and later died. The second, who reportedly held a classified role in the Military Intelligence Directorate, died two days earlier at the Glilot military base near Ramat Hasharon.
According to the report, at least nine former soldiers who served during the Gaza war, either as regular personnel or reservists, also died by suicide after completing active duty.
Haaretz reported that military suicides have increased since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Military data cited by the newspaper showed seven active-duty suicides between Oct. 7 and the end of 2023, rising to 21 in 2024 and 22 in 2025—the highest annual total in 15 years. The report said some cases have been linked to combat service and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Israeli military has not publicly responded to the latest reported deaths.
