16,000 Israeli soldiers wounded since outbreak of Gaza war

At least 16,000 Israeli soldiers have been injured since the outbreak of the Gaza war, official figures showed on Tuesday.

The Defense Ministry's Rehabilitation Division said that it had received 16,000 soldiers since Oct. 7, 2023.

Half of the soldiers received by the rehab centers suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, including 2,900 suffering both physical injuries and psychological distress, it added.

“One in every two soldiers treated by the Rehabilitation Department suffered from psychological distress,” the division said.

According to the same figures, the average annual treatment cost for an injured soldier is estimated at nearly 150,000 shekels ($41,000).

The Israeli army has launched a brutal military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack in October 2023, killing more than 50,100 Palestinians, injuring over 113,700 others, and leaving the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.