Israel must address double standards in handling soldiers' suicides

The suicide of Alex Miller, a 23-year-old American who served in the IDF, underscores a growing crisis in mental health among Israeli soldiers and veterans. Miller's death by apparent suicide in Miami, after being discharged from the army, follows a pattern of similar tragedies over the past two and a half years of conflict.

Miller was wounded in a Palestinian car-ramming attack in the West Bank in October 2022. Despite rehabilitation, he returned to service. His father, Danny Miller, stated that the attack and the subsequent death of one of Miller's close friends in Gaza significantly impacted him, leading to profound suffering, though not openly admitted by his son.

Suicide among soldiers and former soldiers is on an alarming rise, driven by psychological trauma, prolonged deployments, witnessing horrific events, and the loss of comrades. In 2025, 22 active-duty soldiers died by suicide, the highest number since 2010. Between January 2024 and July 2025, 279 active soldiers attempted suicide. For former soldiers, the report indicates 15 civilian deaths by suicide linked to military service since the Gaza war began.

Miller's death occurred just after the High Court of Justice heard a petition challenging the state's handling of suicides among discharged soldiers and reservists whose deaths might be connected to their service. The petition, filed by the Jerusalem Institute of Justice and Forum Yahalomey Krav, questioned the implementation of recommendations from a committee examining the state's support for families of such soldiers. The hearing concluded without an immediate ruling.

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We had a lot of conversations about the [2022] attack, but apparently, the attack and Noam’s death broke him. Even though he didn’t admit it, he suffered a lot.