Tel aviv: Israel is facing a looming mental health crisis affecting nearly two million people, including large numbers of soldiers, as a result of Tel Aviv's two-year war in Gaza, local media said.

According to Anadolu Agency, Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported that two million Israelis, including many soldiers, now require psychological support from the state. There has been a notable increase in drug addiction, along with the breakdown of families and entire communities.

The report highlights that while many Israelis believed the war had already plunged society into a deep psychological crisis, warnings have emerged that a real disaster may still be forthcoming.

Experts and trauma survivors cited by the newspaper pointed to a severe shortage of therapists, noting that the most acute difficulties often surface after the fighting concludes. They cautioned that future generations are likely to bear a heavy burden.

Israel's mental health system, already in a prolonged crisis, has deteriorated since the onset of the war, with a severe shortage of staff, extended waiting times, and infrastructure unable to handle the pressure, the report stated.

'A large part of our population-people who showed great strength and solidarity-now feel distressed and depressed after two years of war. We see it every day, now more than ever,' said Prof. Merav Roth, a clinical psychologist.

Discussing addiction trends, Roth mentioned that in 2018, one in ten people in Israel met the threshold for addiction, whereas today it is one in four, describing this rise as alarming.

Suicide incidents within the Israeli army have also increased under combat conditions in Gaza. Israel's public broadcaster KAN documented 279 suicide attempts among soldiers and 36 confirmed suicides since the start of the war in October 2023.

The Israeli army has killed nearly 70,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, and injured over 170,900 during the two-year war that has devastated much of the enclave.