US Veteran Who Fought in Gaza Dies by Suicide Amid Lack of Support from Israeli Authorities

William (Will) Shakin, a US resident and combat veteran who volunteered to fight in Gaza after October 7, ended his life yesterday. Deeply affected by the trauma of the war and the loss of comrades, Shakin struggled with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During his service in the Israeli military’s 13th Battalion through the Mahal program, he lived in a housing center for lone soldiers called "Benji's Home." After completing his service, the center staff recognized his deteriorating mental health and contacted his family in the US. He returned to New York with a close escort due to concerns about his safety, but this support ended once he left Israel.

In recent WhatsApp conversations, Shakin expressed his mental anguish, describing trauma-induced shaking and a desperate need to escape his feelings. After losing contact with him in Gaza, his family and friends alerted the police, who found his car in Manhattan along with a suicide note. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that he had taken his own life.

Chaim Meizlish, a volunteer with the New York-based "Nivut" organization supporting lone soldiers with mental health challenges, stated that Shakin was never officially recognized as a PTSD victim during his service and thus did not receive adequate real-time support. The Defense Ministry requires veterans to be physically present in Israel for committee hearings to receive official recognition, which Shakin could not manage due to family and support system constraints abroad.

Meizlish highlighted a broader systemic issue: approximately 1,200 cases of Israeli combat veterans living in the US, half in the New York area, lack sufficient support from the Defense Ministry, which only has two representatives handling these cases. Veterans abroad often do not receive the benefits, treatments, or rehabilitation they are entitled to in Israel. Meizlish cited an example of a wounded soldier in Los Angeles denied a wheelchair by the Defense Ministry because he could still walk with a cane.

Following the tragedy, Shakin’s parents have requested to bury him in Israel’s Mount Herzl military cemetery, honoring his service. However, since he was not officially recognized as a combat PTSD victim, legal and bureaucratic obstacles prevent this. The family has faced resistance from the Defense Ministry, which has so far declined responsibility. Minister Ofir Sofer has contacted the family and promised to assist. This case underscores the challenges faced by Israeli veterans abroad who suffer from PTSD and the gaps in institutional support.