An Israeli official has said that more than 100,000 Israelis were suffering from "psychological disorders" linked to Israel's ongoing war on Gaza, amid growing public criticism of the government's handling of the military campaign and its impact on society.
Oren Helman, head of the Kesher association, which supports families with special-needs children, told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that around 67,000 people had developed mental health issues since 7 October 2023, following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which momentarily broke a 16-year-long siege on the Palestinian enclave.
He attributed the rising psychological toll to what he called "government failure".
Helman said the war, which Israel claims is aimed at dismantling Hamas but has in practice levelled vast parts of the Gaza Strip and displaced nearly its entire population, is also taking a steep toll on Israeli soldiers and civilians.
He cited figures claiming 13,000 soldiers have been wounded so far, with projections suggesting the number could rise to 20,000. Among Israel’s reservists, around 12 percent are reportedly showing signs of post-traumatic stress.
While Israeli forces have killed over 61,700 Palestinians, mostly of whom were women and children, Helman's remarks reflect growing discontent within Israel over the long-term costs of a war increasingly viewed abroad as genocidal.
Israel's indiscriminate onslaught, marked by the destruction of residential areas, hospitals, and schools, has been widely condemned, even as Israeli society continues to rally around its military.
Though Helman focused on the mental health consequences within Israel, his remarks come as international focus remains on Gaza, where entire neighbourhoods have been obliterated, famine conditions are worsening, and UN agencies warn of long-term devastation.
Helman criticised Israeli officials and media figures for what he described as their indifference toward those suffering from trauma, claiming half of those affected are unemployed and face stigma in the workplace. He pointed to discriminatory laws barring people with PTSD from working in childcare, and cited surveys indicating widespread societal bias.
Yet critics note that this internal conversation is taking place in parallel with Israel’s ongoing refusal to halt a military campaign that has inflicted mass civilian casualties and devastated Gaza's infrastructure.
Rights groups have accused Israel of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.