Operation Al-Aqsa Storm: A Psychological Hurricane Engulfing Israel
By: M. Sharifi
Nine months into Operation "Al-Aqsa Storm," a testament to the Palestinian resistance's unwavering determination, it sent shockwaves through the very foundations of the illegitimate Israeli regime. While viewed as a strategic setback for the Israeli army, the operation's true impact runs deeper, etching scars of psychological trauma onto the fabric of Israeli society. The impact of the "Al-Aqsa Storm" extends far beyond the battlefield, permeating the daily lives of the Israeli occupiers and manifesting as a pervasive mental health crisis. This crisis manifests across a wide spectrum, affecting not just soldiers but rather a growing sense of unease and anxiety pervading their society.
The Israeli daily "Jerusalem Post," in a recent report quoted by the organization Nifgashim, a social movement that works to provide comprehensive mental health support to Zionist reservists, has laid bare the disconcerting mental health state of Israeli soldiers returning from the hell of the Gaza Strip. The harrowing experiences of war, interwoven with the atrocities and war crimes, have left these soldiers wrestling with a pervasive "post-war stress disorder." Over 10,000 reservists of the Israeli regime have sought mental health services, overwhelmed by the traumatic echoes of their time in Gaza.
The quest for normalcy, for a life beyond the battlefield, proves an arduous journey, a constant reminder of the psychological toll their actions have exacted. This psychological tempest extends far beyond the military ranks, enveloping the entirety of the occupied territories. A study reveals the emergence of a prevailing public trauma manifesting as a surge in "broken heart syndrome," resembling symptoms of a heart attack, a reminder of the mental and emotional strain endured by the Zionist population.
Since last October, there has been a staggering 100% increase in individuals suffering from this syndrome. The report highlights a particularly troubling trend: a significant rise in cases among women around 50 years old. These are the mothers of soldiers, bearing the weight of their children's wartime experiences, their hearts burdened with the unspoken anxieties of a collapsing society. The Israeli settlers, displaced from their settlements in the south of the occupied Palestinian territories, also bear the brunt of the psychological fallout.
The Israeli media itself admits that the majority of these refugees are struggling with severe mental and emotional problems. Their accounts paint a bleak picture: "very bad" conditions, with few reporting "good" or "acceptable" circumstances. Fear and palpable anxiety grip the Israeli population, leading to a mass exodus from the occupied territories.
In the first six months of the Gaza war alone, 550,000 Israelis fled the occupied Palestinian territories for other countries. The Israeli regime's tourism offices further corroborate this exodus, confirming that thousands more are seeking refuge abroad, driven by fear of a possible escalation of war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Zionist youth are not spared from this psychological crisis, particularly those living in border areas, are grappling with drug and alcohol addiction, fueled by the trauma of displacement and the constant threat of war. A report indicates a significant increase in psychosomatic symptoms, with 53% of youth reporting at least one psychosomatic symptom per day. Depression and anxiety are rampant, with 98% of teenagers in the northern and southern regions struggling with these debilitating conditions. The rate of addiction to alcohol, gambling, and marijuana has skyrocketed from 8.9% in 2019 to a staggering 28.3% this year.
Despite the passage of nine months since the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, Netanyahu's cabinet has failed to present a comprehensive plan to address this escalating crisis. The lack of leadership and the absence of a viable solution have eroded public trust in the regime. The future, for many Israelis, appears bleak, shrouded in the uncertainty of a nation teetering on the brink of psychological collapse. The consequences of this crisis, of this mental and emotional hurricane, will shake the Israeli society to its core, leaving an indelible mark on its bleak future.
