Israel’s Haaretz daily has published first-hand accounts from five active-duty conscripts who say months of fighting in Gaza have left many troops exhausted, fearful and traumatized. The soldiers, aged 20–22, described recovering children’s bodies from rubble, freezing in place while comrades bled after explosions and writing funeral wishes on their mobile phones before each mission. Drawn from paratrooper, Kfir, Givati, Nahal Reconnaissance and Yahalom engineering units, the men said relentless urban combat, extreme heat, sleeplessness and unclear objectives have eroded morale. One soldier reported hair loss from stress; another said initial “euphoria” had turned to disillusionment as casualties mounted and commanders struggled to supply ammunition or protective gear. Their testimonies challenge the official Israel Defense Forces portrayal of battlefield conditions and add to mounting domestic criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom opposition politicians accuse of prolonging the campaign for political ends. The conflict, launched after Hamas’s 7 Oct. 2023 assault on southern Israel, has killed more than 57,100 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and drawn repeated international calls for a cease-fire. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant on war-crimes allegations.