Israel: Increased number of IDF soldiers killed or committed suicide in 2022

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – An increased number of soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces were killed in uniform or died by suicide in 2022 compared to the previous year, the Jerusalem Post reports.

The IDF released figures Tuesday showing that 44 soldiers were killed in 2022, compared to 31 in 2021, JPost reports. Moreover, at least 14 soldiers committed suicide over the past year, compared to 11 in the previous year.

Most of the suicides were conscripted male troops, Brig. Gen. Yoram Knafo, chief of staff of the IDF Manpower Directorate, told reporters. Two of the 14 cases were lone soldiers who did not have family in Israel or were supported by their family in Israel, JPost said.

Three soldiers were killed in combat over the past year: one soldier was killed in a Palestinian shooting attack on the West Bank security barrier in September; another was killed in an attack near the West Bank city of Nablus in October; a third was also killed in October, at a checkpoint in East Jerusalem.

Six soldiers were killed in car accidents while on leave, and one died in a car crash while on duty. Ten soldiers died of illnesses in 2022, JPost reports. Six soldiers were killed in work or training accidents in 2022, compared to one soldier being killed in a military accident the previous year.

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