Abu Hamza reports the rescue of an ‘israeli’ captive following a suicide attempt

Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for Saraya al-Quds, the military division of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, disclosed on Thursday that their medical personnel intervened following a suicide attempt by an Israeli detainee approximately three days prior.

It was disclosed that an Israeli detainee attempted suicide amid a worsening mental state, exacerbated by recent conditions enforced by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s administration. These measures have been cited as contributing factors to the stalled and unsuccessful negotiations regarding the captive’s release.

According to a statement from a Saraya al-Quds spokesperson, the Israeli detainee who recently attempted suicide was scheduled for release in the initial phase of a prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.

Abu Hamza stated that Saraya al-Quds has implemented enhanced security and safety measures for the Israeli captives held in their custody, following the recent incident.

In response to ongoing tensions, families of Israeli captives detained by resistance forces in Gaza persist in holding demonstrations throughout northern, central, and southern regions of the occupied Palestinian territories. The protests highlight the families’ dissatisfaction with the Israeli government’s management of negotiations for a prisoner exchange.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Hamas alleged that Israel has introduced “new issues and conditions” concerning matters of withdrawal, the ceasefire, captives, and the repatriation of displaced individuals. According to Hamas, these developments have postponed the finalization of an agreement that was previously deemed attainable.

In a related development, Israeli military authorities have reported a notable increase in suicide incidents among its personnel amid the ongoing conflict, as reported by Israeli media. This surge comes as hundreds of thousands of reserve troops have been mobilized.

The Israeli Defense Forces have reported a rise in suspected suicides among their personnel during the ongoing conflict, alongside disclosing casualty figures for the previous two years.

Data released by the army indicates that there were 38 instances of soldier suicides in 2023 and early 2024. Notably, 28 of these tragic events took place after October 7, 2023. In contrast, the figures for previous years were lower, with 14 suicides reported in 2022 and 11 in 2021.

In 2023, Israeli military officials reported that 17 soldiers took their own lives, comprising seven conscripts, four professional soldiers, and six reservists. The situation is said to have deteriorated further in 2024, with reports indicating that at least 21 soldiers died by suicide. This year’s figures include seven conscripts, two career soldiers, and 12 reservists.

The elevated suicide rates come as no surprise, given that military fatalities in 2023 and 2024 have reached record levels not seen in decades, primarily due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, hostilities in Lebanon, and engagements on multiple fronts, the Times of Israel has reported.

The report revealed that all 38 suspected suicides recorded in 2023 and 2024 involved male military personnel. This increase in suicide rates, especially among reserve forces, is linked to the deployment of approximately 300,000 reservists during the conflict.

The military has reported a total of 558 soldier fatalities in 2023, with 512 of these deaths occurring during “operational activity.” This includes several hundred casualties from Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The most recent statistics reveal that since the onset of the conflict, 891 soldiers have been killed and 5,569 have sustained injuries.

Amid an increase in suicide rates, the Israeli Defense Forces have implemented enhanced mental health support measures, including the launch of a round-the-clock hotline that has fielded over 3,900 calls since its inception in October 2023. Furthermore, the military has mobilized over 800 reserve officers to bolster mental health care services amidst the ongoing conflict.