Israel was shaken Tuesday after a 26-year-old former soldier set himself on fire, protesting against the negligence of his financial support needs. He suffered severe injuries.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced a "thorough investigation to find the reasons for this tragic event."
His ministry pledged to "substantially improve the treatment of soldiers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)."
Itzik Saidian fought in the 2014 war in Gaza, Operation Protective Edge, and is suffering from PTSD.
Recalling the deadly combat in Gaza, he said he lost seven of his brothers-in-arms within three hours of the beginning of the fighting.
Saidian was recognized as a disabled veteran, but at a level of disability that did not allow him to receive all the treatment he needed. He was only eligible for only a small monthly allowance.
He accepted the decision and found a job. But then during the outbreak of the pandemic, he was dismissed from his job and the army refused to increase his allocations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "very shocked" with the incident. Army Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi and Gantz visited Saidian at the Sheba Medical Center.
Saidian arrived at the Rehabilitation Department’s offices in Petah Tikva with a bottle full of a flammable liquid, doused himself with it, and then set himself on fire in the entryway, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday.
He was rushed to the intensive care unit of Tel Hashomer Hospital near Tel Aviv and was in "critical condition," the hospital said.
The total number of Israeli casualties of war stands at 23,928, according to figures released by the Defense Ministry on Friday. There are 54,000 physically disabled Israeli soldiers.