6/17/2024–|Last updated: 6/17/202408:01 PM (Mecca time)
Official Israeli data revealed – today, Monday – that 8,663 Israeli soldiers have arrived in psychological and physical rehabilitation departments since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7.
The Knesset said – in a statement – that the Ministry of Defense provided data in this regard to the parliamentary State Audit Committee, and explained that the most common injury is limb injury at a rate of 42%, mental and post-traumatic reactions at 21%, internal injuries at 9%, and spinal injuries at 7%. Injuries to the ears 8%, and injuries to the eyes 2%, without clarifying the percentages of the remaining injuries.
The Knesset added that 35% of the wounded – who are being treated in the rehabilitation ward – suffer from “psychological harm.”
Friends of Eliran Mizrahi, a soldier who committed suicide due to post-traumatic stress after long service in Gaza, spoke before the committee, according to the statement.
Mickey Levy, Chairman of the Committee and a member of the Knesset, said, “The state that sends its soldiers into battle must know how to take care of them when they return, and not abandon them as soon as they lay down their weapons.”
He added, “I know that mental health centers have been established, and that the Ministry of Defense and the Rehabilitation Department are doing everything in their power to provide assistance to everyone who needs it, but we have to understand that this is a time bomb.”
662 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 3,848 wounded since the beginning of the war on Gaza, according to the Israeli occupation army, which is facing accusations of concealing a larger toll.
Data published by websites and news agencies during the past few days indicated that at least 19 Israeli soldiers were killed and more than 70 others were injured on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon fronts since the beginning of this June.
Israel continues its war on Gaza, ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions to stop it immediately, and the orders of the International Court of Justice to end the Rafah invasion, take measures to prevent acts of genocide, and improve the dire humanitarian situation in the Strip.
Tel Aviv is also challenging the request of International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan to issue arrest warrants against its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its Defense Minister Yoav Galant for their responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.