Israeli soldier involved in Gaza and Lebanon assaults dies by suicide amid PTSD struggles

An Israeli soldier who participated in the occupation's military assaults in Gaza and Lebanon died by suicide after reportedly suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The 24-year-old, identified as Daniel Edri, was not on active duty at the time of his death but had served as a reservist. According to Hebrew media reports, Edri had been grappling with intense psychological trauma stemming from his military involvement, particularly in Gaza, where he confessed to his mother that he was haunted by the horrors he had witnessed and committed.

Edri reportedly set himself on fire inside his car, and his body was later discovered in Biriya Forest, near the city of Safed.

His mental state had deteriorated after two of his childhood friends were killed during the attack on the Nova Music Festival on October 27, 2023. According to his mother, Sigal Edri, Daniel served as a combat support soldier, transporting the bodies of  Israeli soldiers in northern and southern combat zones.

Read: Israeli soldiers say they were ordered to fire on Palestinians at Gaza aid centers

“He told me he saw horrors,” she said, tearfully. “He told me, ‘Mom, I smell the smell of the bodies. I keep seeing the bodies all the time.’”

Sigal also revealed that Daniel frequently experienced uncontrollable fits of rage, and she was afraid to leave him alone. Though he was scheduled to be hospitalised in a psychiatric facility, the hospital had placed him on a waiting list.

Earlier this year, data showed that over 100,000 Israelis are suffering from psychological disorders as a result of the ongoing war crimes and violence committed in Gaza. Additionally, 61,000 families have reported ongoing mental health challenges since October 27, 2023.

The Israeli military has refused to grant Daniel Edri a military honour, stating that the Israeli law that restrict such honours only to those who die during active military service.

Over 57,418 Palestinians have been killed, the majority being women and children, while 136,261 civilians have been injured. According to Palestinian authorities in Gaza, nearly 11,000 bodies are still trapped under rubble.