1,600 Israeli soldiers left disabled by Gaza conflict

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) – Around 1,600 Israeli soldiers have been left physically disabled since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last month, according to a veterans’ organization.

“Some 1,600 soldiers suffered physical disabilities since Oct. 7,” Idan Kleiman, chairman of the army’s Disabled Veterans Organization, told Army Radio.

He said at least 400 soldiers are still hospitalized.

“Thousands more will come to us suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder,” Kleiman said.

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, killing more than 14,532 Palestinians, including over 6,000 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.