HEADLINESIsrael PTSD rises as 180 percent forecastGaza civilians crushed by dire humanitarian crisisIran protests persist as US pursues diplomacyThe time is now 3:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This hour, the Middle East remains in a state of high alert as Israel endures a condition experts describe as rolling trauma, a state shaped by ongoing war and persistent tension with Iran. In Israeli society, life continues in routine terms—work, school, commuting—while the mind stays tuned to a threat that may appear at any moment, with no clear start or finish in sight.Psychologists and social workers warn that rolling trauma does not end with a single event. After October 7, people found a fractured sense of order: personal security, public institutions, and the coordination between civil, military, and political authorities all seemed unsettled. The public’s need for explanations and reliable information remains a core psychological requirement to manage anxiety and maintain functioning. At the same time, there is growing recognition of the body’s response to a threat that never fully recedes—fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances, and the worsening of chronic conditions are common among both civilians and combat-related populations.In the military sphere, Israel is confronting a mental health crisis within its forces. Defence Ministry figures show PTSD cases among soldiers rising sharply since 2023, with 60% of the roughly 22,300 personnel treated for war-related wounds also dealing with post-trauma. The ministry projects a continued rise, forecasting a potential 180% increase by 2028. The health system, including major providers, has reported significant demand for mental health services, and some soldiers have sought alternative forms of therapy or therapy dogs as part of coping. The toll of extended combat is not limited to soldiers in Gaza; Israeli forces remain deployed in Gaza, in parts of southern Lebanon, and in expanded areas of southern Syria, with the risk of broader regional confrontation heightened by tense exchanges with Iran.The human cost extends to casualties on all sides. Israel has said more than 1,100 service members have been killed since October 7. In Gaza and Lebanon, officials and independent monitors report substantial civilian suffered losses, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with large portions of the population lacking shelter, food, and medical care. Alongside deaths, the conflict has produced widespread trauma within families and communities, triggering long-term needs for psychological support, social services, and community mediation.Within Israel, late-stage exams in public trust and social coherence have taken on new dimensions. Experts emphasize that when people feel that the social order can be trusted—regarding institutions, regulations, and the division of responsibility between civil and military authorities—minds can more readily adapt and function under stress. With the possibility of further escalation in the region, the call for transparent, credible communication from authorities is seen as essential to civic resilience. The sense that a path to stability will require dialogue, explicit acknowledgement of the current state, and responsible mediation remains a central public concern.Turning to Iran, two years of widespread protests have continued to shape regional dynamics. Reports from the period show more than 600 protests across Iran’s provinces, with a death toll running into the thousands and tens of thousands detained. The regime’s leadership, including its 86-year-old supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has shown a degree of cohesion that has sustained the state through domestic upheaval. Yet Iran’s youth movements and urban dissidence point to a persistent challenge to the regime’s legitimacy. Some analyses note the breadth of grassroots discontent while also acknowledging the absence of clear signs of mass defections within security forces.Internationally, the United States remains closely watched for its posture toward Iran. A US special envoy suggested a preference for a diplomatic resolution to tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, missiles, proxies, and stockpiles, arguing that a comprehensive diplomatic framework could resolve core issues if the regime agrees to concessions. At the same time, Washington has moved assets to the region in response to potential threats, and has warned that grave consequences could follow continued violence against protesters in Iran. Reports also indicate ongoing sanctions targeting Iranian officials and networks involved in illicit finance and oil transactions, signaling a broad approach to pressuring Tehran while avoiding a full-scale conflict.In parallel, debates inside allied capitals continue to influence regional security thinking. European and other Western observers note that while military options remain on the table, ...
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