Ankara: Two female Israeli soldiers have reportedly taken their own lives over the past two days, increasing the number of active-duty Israeli soldiers who have died by suicide this year to at least 16, as reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

According to Anadolu Agency, one of the soldiers was serving in the Bardelas Battalion and died on Tuesday after being discovered injured at a military base in southern Israel. The other soldier, who had a classified role within the Military Intelligence Directorate, died two days prior at the Glilot base near Ramat Hasharon, located north of Tel Aviv.

The report stated that at least nine other soldiers, who served during the Gaza war, either on regular duty or as reservists, have died by suicide this year following the completion of their active duty. Haaretz highlighted a noticeable rise in military suicides since the war began on October 7, 2023.

Before the onset of the war, military records showed an average of 12 suicides per year over the past decade. From October 7 through the end of 2023, there were seven suicides among active-duty soldiers. This number increased to 21 in 2024 and reached 22 in 2025, marking the highest annual total in 15 years, based on military data cited by Haaretz.

The newspaper pointed out that the military has identified several instances where participation in the war was directly linked to suicides, particularly among reservists diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after their service in or around the Gaza area.

Israel has continued its war in Gaza since October 8, 2023. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,000 injured, the majority being women and children.

Despite a ceasefire that was implemented on October 10, 2025, Israeli attacks have persisted, resulting in at least 1,207 Palestinian deaths and 3,914 injuries, according to the ministry.