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Israeli reserve general and military analyst Yitzhak Brik has warned that the army is confronting “the worst manpower crisis in its history” due to a severe personnel shortage. In an opinion piece for the Hebrew-language daily Maariv, Brik said thousands of officers and non-commissioned officers have avoided service in recent months by refusing call-ups or declining to renew contracts.
Over two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the army reports 923 troops killed and 6,399 injured, though strict military censorship may conceal higher losses. Around 20,000 soldiers are reportedly dealing with post-traumatic stress, according to Israeli media citing military data. Brik noted that many officers requested immediate discharge and younger recruits are reluctant to commit to long-term service, creating gaps in professional personnel.
The shortage is now affecting equipment maintenance and the operation of combat systems. Brik warned that these issues could soon make the army incapable of functioning effectively. He attributed the crisis to decisions by successive chiefs of staff, including personnel reductions and shorter service durations, which are three years for men and two for women, that have left gaps difficult to fill quickly.