Israeli casualties of war, in addition to those of Israel's nine major wars, include 9,745 soldiers and security forces personnel killed in "miscellaneous engagements and terrorist attacks",[1][better source needed] which includes security forces members killed during military operations, by fighting crime, natural disasters, diseases, traffic or labor accidents and disabled veterans whose disabilities contributed to their deaths.[2] Between 1948 and 1997, 20,093[3] Israeli soldiers were killed in combat, 75,000 Israelis were wounded, and nearly 100,000[4] Israelis were considered disabled army veterans. On the other hand, in 2010 Yom Hazikaron, Israel honored the memory of 22,684 Israeli soldiers and pre-Israeli Palestinian Jews killed since 1860 in the line of duty for the independence, preservation and protection of the nation, and 3,971 civilian terror victims.[2][5][6] The memorial roll, in addition to IDF members deceased, also include fallen members of the Shin Bet security service, the Mossad intelligence service, the Israel Police, the Border Police, the Israel Prisons Service, other Israeli security forces, the pre-state Jewish underground, and the Jewish Brigade and the Jewish Legion (which served alongside British forces in World War II and World War I respectively).

Israel Defense Forces Former Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz salutes Yom Kippur War casualties at an official annual memorial service for fallen soldiers.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Anti-Defamation League, a total of 1,194 Israelis and foreigners were killed[7][8] and 7,000 wounded[9] between September 2000 and August 2010 by Palestinian terror attacks (most of them during 2000–2005 Second Intifada); while more than 3,000 Israelis[10][11] have been killed and 25,000 have been wounded as a result of Palestinian violence and hostile enemy action (without including wars) since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 until today. Another 685 Jewish residents of Mandatory Palestine were killed between 1920 and 1947 as a result of Arab riots, British anti-Zionist operations and World War II attacks.[12][13] Palestinians killed 1,074 Israelis and wounded 7,520 between 2000 and 2005.[14]

The following tables summarize Israeli casualties by war, conflict or incident.

Prior to Israel's independence

Conflicts with Arabs

Conflicts prior to Israel's independence Military deaths Civilian deaths Total deaths Military and/or Civilian wounded Total casualties
Battle of Tel Hai 0 6 6 0 6
1920 Nebi Musa riots 0 5 5 216 221
1921 Jaffa riots 0 47[15] 47 146 193
1921 Jerusalem riots 0 5 5 Unknown Unknown
1929 Buraq riots 0 133 133 339 472
1933 Palestine riots 0 0 0 Unknown Unknown
1936–1939 Arab revolt 0 415+[16] 415 1,200+ 1,615
* Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine At least 34 members of Palmach[17] Unknown 50-100 Unknown Unknown
1947–48 Civil War 895 408[18][better source needed] 1,303+ 2,000[19] 3,303
*Conflict was against the British

Sinking of ships carrying Jewish immigrants

In the White Paper of 1939 the British government limited Jewish immigration to Palestine to 75,000 over the following five years.[20] European Jews were anxious for ways to leave Europe, but for the most part there were few options. No countries were willing to take Jewish immigrants. However, some Eastern European states were willing to give transit visas. During World War II, many countries denied or severely limited Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust, and Palestine was one of the few destinations available.[21]

In post-Holocaust Europe, the 1,000,000 Jewish survivors were classified as "non-repatrifiable" by the Austrian and German government. In other words, Jews were not "officially allowed to leave the countries of Central and East Europe" by the allied powers, nor were they permitted to settle in Palestine by the British.

An unknown number of Jewish refugees perished en route from European ports to Palestine, and over 30,000 holocaust survivors who successfully immigrated were interned by the British in POW camps.[22] Many immigrant ships were sunk during the British blockade.[citation needed]

Note: Graph is not comprehensive

Casualties attributed to Britain's naval blockade of Mandatory Palestine Deaths Survivors
SS Patria (sunk by the Jewish paramilitary group Haganah) 260[23] 1,510
MV Struma (sunk by Soviet submarine in the Black Sea in World War II) 785[24] 1[15]
SS Bulgaria 280 70
MV Mefküre (sunk by Soviet submarine in the Black Sea in World War II) 345 5
SS Exodus 3 4,512

Regular conflicts

Bold indicates conflicts considered wars by the Israeli Ministry of Defense (as they were named by Israel):[25]

Terror and other attacks 1948-1967

Terror and other attacks 1968–1987

Note: Table is not comprehensive

Terrorism and other attacks 1968–1987 Military deaths Civilian deaths (including foreigners) Total deaths Military and/or Civilian wounded Total casualties
Hijacking of El Al Flight 253 0 1 1 1 2
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine attacks Athens Airport following the Hijacking of El Al Flight 426. 0 1[73][better source needed] 1 1 2
September 1968 Tel Aviv bombings 0 1 1 71 72[74]
November 1968 Mahaneh Yehuda car bomb attack 0 12 12 52 64[74][better source needed]
February 1969 Jerusalem bombing 0 2 2 20 22[74]
October 1969 Haifa apartment bombings 0 4 4 20 24[74]
February 1970 El Al bus attack 0 1 1 8 9[73]
13 February 1970 Swissair Flight 330 attack 0 47[75] 47 unknown 47+
1970 Avivim school bus massacre 0 12 12 25 37[74]
Dawson's Field hijackings 0 0 0 1 1[74]
1971 bombing Ben Yehuda attack 0 0 0 0 0
Hijacking of Sabena Flight 572 5[76] 0 5 1 6[76]
1972 Lod Airport massacre 0 26 26 80 non-Israelis 106+[74]
1972 Munich massacre 1 11 12 0 12
1974 Kiryat Shmona massacre 0 18 18 Unknown 18+
1974 Ma'alot massacre 0 27 27 78 105
Hijacking of TWA Flight 841 2 86 88 0 88
1974 bombing Ben Yehuda attack 0 0 0 13 13
10 February Munich airport attack 12 0 12 0 12[77]
1975 Savoy hotel attack 3 8 11 Unknown Unknown
1975 Ben Yehuda attack 0 15 15 77 92
April 1976 bombing Ben Yehuda attack 0 0 0 0 0
1976 bombing Ben Yehuda attack 0 0 0 33 33
Hijacking of Air France Flight 139, precipitating Operation Entebbe 1 4 5 14 19
1978 Coastal Road massacre 1 38 39 71 110+
1979 bombing Ben Yehuda attack 0 1 1 13 14
1979 Nahariya attack 1 5 6 Unknown Unknown
1980 Misgav-Am attack 1 4 5 15 25
1981 bombing Ben Yehuda attack 0 0 0 1 1
1982 Tyre suicide bombing 75 27 102 55 157
1983 Tyre suicide bombing 28 32 60 40 100
1984 bus 300 incident 0 1 1 7 8
1984 bombing Ben Yehuda attack 0 0 0 0 0
1985 Ras Burqa massacre 0 7 7 4 11
1985 Egypt Air attack 0 60 60 unknown 60
1987 Northern Border attack 6 0 6[76] 8 14

Attacks against Israeli diplomatic missions

Terrorist attacks against Israeli diplomatic missions Israeli deaths Other deaths Total deaths Israeli and/or foreigner wounded Total casualties
1969 Israeli embassies attacks[78][better source needed] 0 0 0 3 3
1970 Israeli Consulate attack in Asuncion[78] 1 0 1 1 2
1972 Israeli Embassy attack in Brussels[78] 0 0 0 1 1
1972 Embassy attack in Istanbul[79][77][better source needed] 1 0 1 0 1
1972 Israeli Embassy employee attack in London[78] 1 0 1 0 0
1972 Israeli Embassy attack in Bangkok[78] 0 0 0 0 0
1973 Israeli Embassy Air Force Attache attack in Washington[78] 1 0 1 0 1
1979 Israeli Ambassador assassination attempt in Lisbon[78] 1 0 1 3 4
1981 Israeli Embassy attack in Vienna[78] 0 0 0 1 1
1982 Israeli Embassy Attache assassination in Paris[78] 1 0 1 0 0
1982 Israeli Ambassador assassination in London[78] 0 0 0 1 1
1982 Israeli Embassy Charge d'Affaires kidnapping attempt in Malta[78] 0 0 0 1 1
1982 Israeli Embassy attack in Quito[78] 0 2 2 1 3
1982 Israeli Consulate attack in Sydney[78] 0 0 0 2 2
1984 Israeli Embassy attack in Cairo[78] 0 0 0 1 1
1984 Israeli Embassy Interest Section Chief attack in Colombo[78] 0 0 0 0 0
1984 Israeli Embassy attack in Cyprus[78] 0 0 0 0 0
1985 Israeli Embassy employee attack in Cairo[78] 1 0 1 2 3
1986 Israeli Embassy employee attack in Cairo[78] 1 0 1 3 4
1988 Israeli Embassy attack in Manila[78] 0 0 0 0 0
1988 Israeli Embassy failed attack in Nicosia[78] 0 Several policeman Unknown Unknown Unknown
1992 Israeli Embassy employee assassination in Ankara[78] 1 0 1 0 0
1992 Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires 4 25 29 242 271
1994 Israeli Embassy attack in Bangkok[78] 0 1 1 0 0
1994 Israeli Embassy Attack in London 0 0 0 20 20
1997 Israeli Embassy attack in Amman[78] 0 0 0 2 2
1998 Israeli Embassy failed attack in Brussels[78] 0 0 0 0 0
1999 Israeli Consulate attack in Berlin[78] 0 0 0 0 0
2004 Tashkent Israeli embassy bombing 1 4 5[80] 5+[81] 10+
2008 Nouakchott Israeli embassy bombing 0 0 0 3[82] 3
2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats 0 0 0 4[83] 4

Suicide bombings

 
Aftermath of the Jaffa Road bus bombings. 26 people were killed in the Hamas suicide attack.

From 1993 to 2003, 303 Palestinian suicide bombers attacked Israel. More than 80% of all suicide bombings occurred after the year 2000. 55% of all suicide attacks were deemed "successful" – that is, resulted in killing themselves and injuring or killing others.[84][better source needed] Suicide bombings constituted just 0.5% of Palestinian attacks against Israelis in the first two years of the Second Intifada, though this percentage accounted for half of the Israelis killed in that period.[85]

Year Realized suicide bombing attacks Killed Wounded
1994 4 38[86] 75
1995 4 35[86] 150
1996 5 67[86] 161
1997 5 24[86] 359
1998 2 3[86][better source needed] 28
1999 2 0[86] 0
2000 4 6[41] 10
2001 35 85[41] 323
2002 60 220[41] 119[87]
2003 26 142[41] 105
2004 15 55[41] 172
2005 7 23[41] 63
2006 4 15[41] 31
2007 1 3[88] 0
2008 2 1[89] 22

Between 2000 and 2006, 521[41] suicide bombing plots were thwarted by the Israeli Defense Forces and 540 Israelis were killed by suicide bombings.[41]

Non-combat military casualties

171 Israeli soldiers have been killed in training exercises and non-combat roles since 1977.[90][91]

Wars ranked by total deaths

 
An IDF medical crew evacuating an injured soldier from the battle field during the Yom Kippur War. The Israel Defense Forces suffered 2,565 fatalities and more than 7,200 soldiers were injured.
  1. 1948 Arab–Israeli War
  2. Yom Kippur War
  3. War of Attrition
  4. 2023 Gaza War
  5. Six-Day War
  6. 1982 Lebanon War
  7. Suez Crisis
  8. 2006 Lebanon War

Timeline chart

 
Israelis killed.[92]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Israeli Casualties in Battle. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  2. ^ a b "24,293 fallen soldiers and terror victims".
  3. ^ The Arab-Israeli Wars. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  4. ^ Dershowitz, Alan M.. (24 February 2010) MKs probe treatment of disabled IDF veterans... JPost – Israel. Jpost.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  5. ^ "2010 Memorial Day" (in Hebrew). . NRG Maariv. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  6. ^ Aurora Archived 28 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine (Spanish)
  7. ^ a b "Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism since September 2000". Archived from the original on 3 April 2007.
  8. ^ List of Palestinian terror victims. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  9. ^ The Second Intifada/Outbreak of Palestinian Violence September 2000 Archived 12 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Adl.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  10. ^ a b c B'Tselem – Statistics – Fatalities Archived 2 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Btselem.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  11. ^ Which Came First – Terrorism or "Occupation"? Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  12. ^ a b c "Terrorism deaths in Israel – 1920–1999".
  13. ^ Palestinian violence and terrorism since September. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  14. ^ "Do targeted killings work?", Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, March/April 2006, Volume 85, Number 2, p. 95-112
  15. ^ a b HCPP – Information Site Archived 12 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Parlipapers.chadwyck.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  16. ^ Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Web.archive.org (15 December 2005). Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  17. ^ Palmach memorial web site
  18. ^ British Rule in Palestine Updated. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  19. ^ Special UN report Archived 2 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine by the United Nations Special Commission (16 April 1948), § II.5
  20. ^ Morris, Benny (1999). Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881–1999. John Murray. ISBN 0-7195-6222-8, p. 164.
  21. ^ Aliya Bet – definition – Zionism and Israel -Encyclopedia / Dictionary/Lexicon of Zionism/Israel/Middle East/Judaism. Zionism-israel.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  22. ^ Britain's Naval and Political Reaction to the Illegal Immigration of Jews to Palestine, 1945–1949, Fritz Liebreich
  23. ^ Deaths of 260 in 1940 ship explosion commemorated | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California. Jewishsf.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  24. ^ Aroni, Samuel (2002–2007). "Who Perished on the Struma And How Many?". JewishGen.org.
  25. ^ Israeli military decorations by campaign
  26. ^ Israel's War of Independence (1947–1949). Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  27. ^ a b "Map". Jewish Agency for Israel. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009.
  28. ^ Martin Gilbert (2005). The Routledge Atlas of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Routledge. p. 58. ISBN 0-415-35901-5.
  29. ^ Sachar, History of Israel, p. 450.
  30. ^ Martin Gilbert (2005). The Routledge Atlas of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Routledge. p. 78. ISBN 0-415-35901-5.
  31. ^ According to the israeli Foreign Affairs office
  32. ^ Oren, p. 185–187
  33. ^ Gard, Mitchell. "Myths & Facts Online: The War of Attrition, 1967–1970". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  34. ^ a b Lorch, Netanel (2 September 2003). 2,000+ soldier and 700 civilian wounded "The Arab-Israeli Wars". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 3 March 2007. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  35. ^ a b Kober, Avi: Israel's Wars of Attrition: Attrition Challenges to Democratic States, p. 64
  36. ^ Wounds in Israeli Battle Casualties during the 1982 Evacuation of Wounded from Lebanon, Rosenblatt 1985
  37. ^ Myths & Facts – Israel and Lebanon. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  38. ^ Israel's Invasion of Lebanon, Operation Peace for the Galilee. Eretzyisroel.org (17 May 1983). Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  39. ^ a b B'Tselem – Statistics – Fatalities in the first Intifada. Btselem.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  40. ^ Fatal Terrorist Attacks in Israel Since the DOP (Sept 1993). Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Anti-Israeli Terrorism, 2006: Data, Analysis and Trends Archived 6 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC) March 2007
  42. ^ The al-Aqsa Intifada – Israel News, Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  43. ^ Second Intifada Timeline Archived 17 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Mideastweb.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  44. ^ Hizbullah attacks northern Israel and Israel's response 12-Jul-2006. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  45. ^ Israeli troops step up attacks on Hamas outside Gaza City. Sebastian Rotella and Rushdi abu Alouf, Los Angeles Times, 13 January 2009
  46. ^ "Terrorist was a PA officer". The Jerusalem Post. 11 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  47. ^ "IDF tanks leave Gaza after clashes". The Jerusalem Post. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  48. ^ Dershowitz, Alan M. (14 June 2010) Police officer shot in Hebron Hills dies fro... JPost – Headlines. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  49. ^ "Policeman killed in shooting attack south of Hebron". Ynet. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  50. ^ Fatal Terrorist Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  51. ^ "Four Israelis shot dead by terrorists in West Bank". The Jerusalem Post. 31 August 2010.
  52. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (12 March 2011). "Five members of Jewish family killed in suspected Palestinian militant attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  53. ^ "Controversy Surrounds Fatal Stoning Attack in Israel". 25 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011.
  54. ^ 1 killed in rocket attack on Ashkelon, Ynet News 29 October 2011
  55. ^ Devastation in Kiryat Malachi after deadly strike, Jerusalem Post 15 November 2012
  56. ^ Pedestrian killed in excavator terror attack in Jerusalem, Times of Israel, 4 August 2014
  57. ^ Dershowitz, Alan M. (14 June 2010) Policeman killed in W. Bank attack... JPost – Israel. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  58. ^ Dershowitz, Alan M. (21 June 2010) Police crack east J'lem terror cells. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  59. ^ Dershowitz, Alan M. (27 June 2010) 2 Border Guards stoned in east Jerusalem – JPost – Headlines. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  60. ^ "7 injured in south Tel Aviv terror attack". The Jerusalem Post. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  61. ^ Greenberg, Hanan (20 June 1995). "Lethal clash: Senior IDF commander killed in border skirmish". Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  62. ^ "IDF soldier Shlomi Cohen killed in Lebanon border shooting". The Times of Israel. 16 December 2013.
  63. ^ "IDF releases names of Givati officer and soldier killed in Hezbollah attack". The Jerusalem Post. 28 January 2015.
  64. ^ a b Lappin, Yaakov (22 March 2014). "14-year-old killed in Golan Heights in cross-border fire from Syria". The Jerusalem Post.
  65. ^ Wyre Davies (3 August 2010). "Israel-Lebanon border clash kills five people". BBC News. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  66. ^ Kershner, Isabel (18 March 2014). "Blast in Golan Heights Wounds 4 Israeli Soldiers". The New York Times.
  67. ^ Zitun, Yoav (9 October 2013). "2 soldiers lightly hurt after Syrian mortars hit Golan". Ynet News.
  68. ^ "Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Attack Claimed by Lebanon's Hezbollah". The Wall Street Journal. 28 January 2015.
  69. ^ "צוק איתן - ההרוגים - ynet".
  70. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/authorities-name-44-soldiers-30-police-officers-killed-in-hamas-attack/ . Retrieved 1 February 2024
  71. ^ Boxerman, Aaron (10 November 2023). "Israel-Hamas War: Israel Lowers Oct. 7 Death Toll Estimate to 1,200". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  72. ^ https://www.haaretz.com/haaretz-explains/2023-10-19/ty-article-magazine/israels-dead-the-names-of-those-killed-in-hamas-massacres-and-the-israel-hamas-war/0000018b-325c-d450-a3af-7b5cf0210000 . Retrieved 1 February 2024
  73. ^ a b "Terrorist attacks 1968–1973". jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  74. ^ a b c d e f g Terrorist attacks. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  75. ^ Martin Gilbert (2005). The Routledge Atlas of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Routledge. p. 79. ISBN 0-415-35901-5.
  76. ^ a b c Terror list 1967–1993. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  77. ^ a b Chronologies of modern terrorism. Barry Rubin, Barry M. Rubin, Judith Colp Rubin. pg 185
  78. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Major Terror Attacks Against Israeli Embassies and Representatives Abroad".
  79. ^ https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Terrorism/terror1952_1989.html Major Terror Attacks (1952–2003)
  80. ^ here Major Terror Attacks against Israeli Embassies and Representatives Abroad. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  81. ^ "U.S. and Israeli Embassies Hit in Uzbek Bomb Attacks Attack". The Washington Post. 30 July 2004. Retrieved 31 July 2004.
  82. ^ "Arrest in Israeli Embassy Attack". Vos Iz Neias. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  83. ^ "Israeli vehicles attacked in New Delhi, Tblisi; 4 hurt in bombing". Los Angeles Times. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  84. ^ Profile of Suicide Bombings. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org (14 August 2003). Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  85. ^ Avishai Margalit,“The Suicide Bombers,' at New York Review of Books, 16 January 2003.
  86. ^ a b c d e f Major Palestinian Terror Attacks Since Oslo. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  87. ^ [1] Archived 6 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  88. ^ "Suicide bombing in Eilat Bakery". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  89. ^ "Rare suicide bombing hits Israel". BBC News. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  90. ^ Dershowitz, Alan M.. (28 July 2010) Romania: IDF begins complex task of recovering ... JPost – Israel. Jpost.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  91. ^ Dershowitz, Alan M.. (28 July 2010) A bitter series of accidents... JPost – Israel. Jpost.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  92. ^ "Data on casualties". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory (OCHAoPt). United Nations. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.