Israeli military considers deploying weapons that "cannot be used for suicide"
To counter a notable rise in suicide cases among its soldiers, the Israeli military is exploring the integration of technologies into personal firearms to prevent their use in self-harm attempts.
An official in the military’s mental health system stated, “We are studying whether technological measures can be used within the weapon itself to prevent firing with the intent of self-harm.”
The military’s efforts to reduce suicide incidents also include an artificial intelligence-based tool that was recently developed and is planned for launch soon.
According to the newspaper, this tool will complement an online training program that all military personnel are now required to complete every six months, rather than once a year as was previously the case.
Other measures adopted to prevent suicide include making psychological treatment more accessible and easier for Israeli soldiers.
According to the newspaper Haaretz, the number of military personnel who died by suicide has risen to 20 since the beginning of 2026, following the most recent case involving a reserve soldier.
The newspaper noted that military data do not provide a complete picture, as they do not include personnel who ended their service before their deaths.
The military had previously reported 22 suicide cases among military personnel in 2025, the highest annual toll in 15 years, according to the newspaper, citing official data.
A report by the Knesset’s Research and Information Center recorded 279 suicide attempts among military personnel between January 2024 and July 2025, with combat soldiers accounting for 78 percent of the recorded suicide attempts in 2024.
According to Ministry of Defense data cited by Reuters, cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military personnel have increased by approximately 40 percent since September 2023, while 60 percent of the 22,300 military personnel receiving treatment for war-related injuries suffer from trauma-induced psychological disorders.
The ministry predicted that PTSD cases among military personnel will rise by 180 percent by 2028.
Reuters quoted experts as saying the crisis is linked to the prolonged duration of combat, repeated call-ups for service, and fear of death, in addition to what is known as “moral injury,” defined as the psychological suffering resulting from participating in actions that conflict with personal values or witnessing their consequences.
