An Israeli soldier has committed suicide by setting himself on fire in the Biriya Forest near the occupied Palestinian city of Safad.
The incident reflects the severe psychological toll of Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Daniel Edri, 24, took his own life on Friday after returning to the occupied territories, Hebrew media reported.
Haunted by the scenes of destruction and death he witnessed and took part in, Edri told his mother before his death that he couldn’t escape the smell and images of corpses.
According to reports, he had been experiencing severe psychological trauma. He had served in both Gaza and Lebanon as a member of the Israeli military, which has reported a sharp increase in suicides since the onset of its war on Gaza in October 2023.
Since then, the number of soldiers contemplating or threatening suicide has risen by 145%, based on official military data.
A recent study by Tel Aviv University also found that 12% of reservists who participated in the Gaza campaign suffer from severe psychological disorders, with many now considered unfit for duty.
