Israeli general acknowledges significant losses, failures in genocidal war on Gaza

Retired Israeli Reserve General Yitzhak Brik has acknowledged that the Tel Aviv regime has suffered more than 2,000 fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries in the course of a two-year long war that brought devastation, displacement, and unimaginable suffering to Palestinians in Gaza.

During an interview with Israeli Channel 13 on Saturday, Brik stated, “Over the past two years, we have effectively diminished our national and social resilience, costing us hundreds of billions of shekels.”

The Israeli general admitted that Hamas has not been defeated by Israel in the genocidal war.  

He added that “In the last two years, we have suffered significant losses,” highlighting both the death toll and the psychological and physical injuries sustained by soldiers and settlers.

Brik also pointed to the financial and diplomatic repercussions, stating, “We have lost budgets, hundreds of billions of shekels, and our credibility on a global scale.”

He noted that US President Donald Trump viewed Israel as “stagnant and incapable to reach its objectives,” which led him to intervene and take action.

Israel is currently experiencing a severe and worsening mental health emergency among its military personnel. There has been a notable rise in the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicides, which have followed two years of genocidal war on Gaza and ongoing military aggression against Lebanon and Syria.

Few operational hospitals in Gaza struggle to provide care to those waiting: Health ministry

Gaza’s Health Ministry says hospitals in the territory are facing near total collapse, and the few hospitals still functioning in the Strip have become waiting stations for thousands of patients and wounded people.

Recent information from the so-called Israeli security ministry and healthcare professionals shows that there has been an almost 40% rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases since September 2023, with estimates suggesting an increase of up to 180% by the year 2028.

The security ministry has confirmed that among the 22,300 soldiers and personnel receiving care for war-related injuries, 60% are dealing with post-traumatic stress. In response, the ministry has enhanced mental health support and funding, which includes a 50% increase in the use of alternative therapies.

In its 2025 annual report, Maccabi, the second-largest healthcare provider in Israel, revealed that 39% of the military personnel it serves had pursued mental health assistance, with 26% reporting they experienced symptoms of depression.

An Israeli parliamentary committee reported that between January 2024 and July 2025, 279 soldiers attempted suicide, with combat soldiers comprising 78% of those cases.

Over the past two years, local authorities report that over 71,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza, along with 4,400 in southern Lebanon due to Israeli military strikes. Since October 7, 2023, more than 1,100 Israeli troops have also been killed.

Ronen Sidi, who is a clinical psychologist and leads research on combat veterans at Emek Medical Center, pointed out that numerous soldiers are facing moral injury. The condition stems from the emotional and psychological suffering linked to their actions in combat.

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