From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
IDF to enact new guidelines for recognizing suicides linked to service
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleStav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
A committee tasked with examining the IDF’s response to suicides linked to psychological trauma from military service has proposed new guidelines to improve support for affected families, the IDF says. The committee’s report was presented to Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who thanked the committee members for their work and instructed the IDF to implement the recommendations promptly.
The committee, established in August following the suicide of reservist Roi Wasserstein, includes mental health professionals, legal advisers and casualty officers.
Led by former Personnel Directorate head Maj. Gen. (res.) Moti Almoz, the committee focused on addressing the challenges veterans face when dealing with delayed psychological effects from their service.
The committee found that 15 civilians have died by suicide linked to their military service since the onset of the war triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught. These cases will be evaluated by the Defense Ministry, using an established set of criteria, to determine if they should be recognized as fallen soldiers. The IDF notes that the committee did not speak with all 15 families during the investigation, as the issue requires more specific oversight.
According to the IDF, the committee acknowledged that the trauma soldiers experience on the battlefield can lead to long-term psychological issues, sometimes resulting in suicide. However, the committee pointed out that current law only recognizes those who die during active duty. It raised the question of how to address suicides directly caused by military service when the individuals involved are no longer considered active soldiers.
Among the committee’s key recommendations is the establishment of a two-year window after completing military service for a family to seek recognition of suicide cases linked to service, allowing for an appropriate period of investigation and assessment.
The committee also proposed that soldiers’ funerals be marked with military symbols if the death is linked to service-related psychological trauma. This would include military presence, a eulogy by a commander and the laying of an IDF wreath.
The committee also recommends that an IDF representative accompany each bereaved family throughout the funeral and mourning period, providing support and assistance with the process of submitting a recognition request to the Defense Ministry.
The Times of Israel Community.