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In a tense undercover mission outside of Jerusalem, Shir Peled posed as a religious Arab woman—part of a duo masquerading as a local couple—to help intercept a high-stakes arms deal involving four armed terrorists.
The operation was meticulously planned: undercover fighters were stationed inside the village, uniformed soldiers stood by, and a helicopter waited to sweep in. Peled's role was to quietly secure the escape route near the restaurant where the deal was set to take place.
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Shir Peled during a meeting of Helem Club in Jerusalem
(Photo: Maayan Hoffman / The Media Line)
The terrorists arrived as expected and entered the restaurant. Moments after they exited, the code word crackled over the radio: "Action!" Chaos erupted. Guns were drawn on both sides. A helicopter thundered overhead. Soldiers stormed the village. Civilians panicked—shouting, throwing stones. Amid the mayhem, one terrorist escaped, sprinting toward Peled and her partner, unaware they weren't locals.
Suddenly, he was on them—gun in hand, desperate. Her partner tackled him, but the terrorist nearly broke free. Peled drew her hidden weapon in a flash and aimed it at his head. Both froze—guns drawn, eyes locked. Time stood still. The terrorist, stunned by the sight of a "religious woman" with a gun, surrendered.
The village erupted again. Stones flew, radios blared, soldiers swarmed—and Peled vanished into the chaos. This was Peled's life for four years, from 2002 to 2006, when she served as one of the first Israeli women in an undercover combat unit of the Border Police. She was often disguised as a religious Arab woman.
"It was a real-life version of Fauda," she told a small group of Israelis invited last week to Jerusalem to hear her story and watch a new training she's providing through the Helem Club—an NGO helping Israelis cope with the growing number of people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Peled participated in numerous missions to gather intelligence and intercept terrorists, risking her life while simultaneously fighting to be accepted in her predominantly male unit.
It took more than a decade for her to fully understand the impact of those four years on her mental and emotional health. It took 16 years to even speak publicly about her IDF service—let alone seek help for the PTSD from which she suffered.
Today, she lectures about PTSD and works as a yoga teacher. Shortly after the October 7 massacre, she joined the Helem Club to help raise awareness and support female soldiers—and others—who are navigating similar trauma in this ongoing war.
A report released by the State Comptroller in February revealed that in the wake of the October 7 Hamas-led massacre and the ensuing war, roughly 3 million Israeli adults experienced anxiety, depression, or symptoms associated with PTSD. It is also estimated that approximately 580,000 Israelis are suffering from at least one severe symptom of PTSD directly linked to the traumatic events of that day and their aftermath.
Even before the war, PTSD was a significant issue in Israel. A 2018 study led by Ariel University Professor Menahem Ben-Ezra and published in Depression and Anxiety found that 11.6% of the population was living with PTSD or complex PTSD (CPTSD).
I think that if there are more people who cope with PTSD, who will say I’m not ashamed to tell my story, and I’m not ashamed to get help so that the knowledge will grow. In Israel, there will be almost no workplace or even home that doesn’t know someone with PTSD.
Since October 7, an additional 5% of Israelis—more than 500,000 people—are expected to develop the disorder.
Several new studies support this projection. One, published in March 2024, was conducted by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Columbia University, Shalvata Mental Health Center in Hod Hasharon, and the Effective Altruism organization. Their findings indicate that 520,000 Israelis—or 5.3% of the population—could develop PTSD as a result of the crisis. The researchers emphasized that this was a "conservative estimate."
The study also broke down the data by exposure. Among the nearly 40,000 people directly affected on October 7, such as residents of the western Negev and attendees of the Nova and Psyduck music festivals, approximately 31% are expected to develop full-blown PTSD. That's between 8,000 and 16,000 people.
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People attempt to flee the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7
(Photo: Screenshot)
Other studies show how PTSD may persist or surface years later. A 2020 study by Tel Aviv University Professor Zehava Solomon examined veterans of the First Lebanon War. Her research showed that 59% of soldiers who suffered from combat stress reactions later developed PTSD.
Solomon's long-term research also showed that the condition can have a delayed onset and remain for decades. In her 20-year study, 27% of soldiers who experienced acute combat shock continued to suffer symptoms years later, especially when exposed to new traumatic events.
Peled said that 16,500 Israeli soldiers from various wars and military operations have officially been recognized as PTSD patients.
If these figures hold true, nearly 17% of Israel's population could be living with PTSD—more than triple the rate in the United States, where about 5% of adults are affected, according to the National Center for PTSD, and more than four times the global average of 3.9%, as reported by the World Health Organization.
PTSD is a relatively new diagnosis. It was only added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in the late 1970s. As a result, there is still a limited understanding of the condition, both globally and in Israel.
"Israelis are living with collective and continued trauma, and the system is not ready to be able to deal with it," Peled said.
Scientific research shows that PTSD is linked to changes in how the brain processes fear, stress, decision-making, and emotional control. Using MRI scans, Japanese researchers have identified both physical and functional changes in the brains of individuals with PTSD.
Their 2020 study, published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, found that certain brain regions—such as the amygdala (which processes fear), the hippocampus (which stores memory), and the anterior cingulate cortex (which helps regulate emotions)—often appear altered in people with PTSD. These changes can include shrinkage, disrupted communication between brain regions, and unusual activity levels.
Many of these areas are part of larger brain networks that manage memory, attention, emotional control, and responses to stress. In PTSD, these networks often become unbalanced or disconnected, which may explain the intensity and range of symptoms people experience, the researchers showed.
During her presentation, Peled outlined common symptoms of PTSD, including flashbacks, overthinking, anxiety, sadness, insomnia, escapism, depression, guilt or shame, and emotional disconnection.
She also explained why some people develop PTSD while others do not, highlighting five contributing factors: the severity and duration of the trauma, personal and family history, biological and genetic traits, the presence of a supportive environment, and one's coping strategies. Of these, only the last two can be actively managed or influenced.
In Israel, the mental health system is struggling to keep up with the growing demand for PTSD care. Helem Club co-founder and CEO Yaron Edel said that when his organization assessed the available support options, they found they were limited to therapists and medication. "But you don't have enough therapists, and you don't have enough medication," he said.
On top of that, many individuals—like Peled—are hesitant to seek help in the first place. "The role that we are taking at Helem Club is the role of survivors," Edel explained. "We are creating solutions from the point of view of survivors."
One such solution is the program Peled is involved in, called "The Fabulous PTSD Educators." It's part of a broader effort to build a methodology that not only supports individuals living with PTSD but also educates Israeli society, including managers and coworkers, on how to understand and support those affected.
"People don't know about mental health, they don't know about PTSD, and we're looking for a practical solution to help people change their behavior," Edel added.
The educators' program is led by Hadar Madmoni, who said he began speaking with reservists in February and March and noticed a real hunger to understand how to better interact with those suffering from PTSD. That led to the creation of a series of educational modules. Each session is led by someone who personally experiences PTSD.
While the program offers no formal treatment, it builds community. Educators and other participants connect to gain tools and peer support. Peled said that discovering yoga therapy changed her life. It helps her manage triggers, which can be set off by crowded spaces, walking down the street, certain sounds, or even feeling stared at in a car. She emphasized that triggers vary widely—some people might experience one a month, others up to 100 a day. "It just depends on the person and the trauma," she said.
"It's all about knowledge," Peled said. "And I think that if there will be more people who cope with PTSD and are going to tell and share their personal stories, that will say I'm not ashamed to tell my story, and I'm not ashamed to get help so that the knowledge will grow. In Israel, there will be almost no workplace or even home that doesn't know someone with PTSD."
The need for support is so great that some Israelis are leaving the country altogether. Earlier this year, Ynet reported on a wave of young Israelis fleeing abroad—many to India—to escape their mental distress.
"Around 80,000 young Israelis have flown to the East to escape, disconnect and forget amid overwhelming mental anguish," Hezi Shochat, a former IDF officer who fought in Gaza, told Ynet. He launched Hamakom ("The Place") in northern India to offer support to these travelers.
"We've seen a 500% increase in rescues of young people from the East since October 7," Shochat said. "Without professional care to process these experiences, escaping to the East can exacerbate post-traumatic symptoms, trigger emotional breakdowns and even lead to psychosis."
Peled confirmed this pattern. "Running away," she said, is a common reaction to PTSD. For some, that escape takes the form of substance abuse. Others simply remove themselves from the environment that reminds them of their trauma.
People think they’re weird or unique in what they’re feeling. Some people, in the beginning, do not want to go and talk to a professional but often want to speak to someone with PTSD.
Peled said one of the biggest barriers to treatment is the feeling that one is alone in one's experience. "People think they're weird or unique in what they're feeling," she said, which is why the community aspect of Helem Club is so important. "Some people, in the beginning, do not want to go and talk to a professional but often want to speak to someone with PTSD," another Helem educator, Manny Waks, said during the program.
Madmoni added that many people don't even realize they have PTSD, and a high percentage are not getting treatment. "They push the symptoms away and separate themselves from it or do all kinds of things to cover it up until it explodes,” Madmoni said.
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The State Comptroller's report also pointed to this reluctance. Many respondents suffering from PTSD, anxiety, or depression expressed hesitation about seeking care. Seventeen percent said they feared for their privacy, and 5% reported difficulty finding a suitable therapist. Among those with moderate to severe symptoms, 16% had not yet sought treatment but said they intended to.
The report further noted that many people face a six-month wait for mental health services due to a shortage of qualified professionals within the public health system. This lack of timely care, it warned, increases the risk of chronic illness and long-term decline in functioning.
As Israel grapples with the mental health fallout of October 7, Peled and Edel both emphasized that healing doesn't start in the clinic—it starts with connection. "The first step is that they do not feel alone," Peled concluded. Added Edel: "Treatment is something temporary. Community is something you have your whole life."
The story is written by Maayan Hoffman and reprinted with permission from The Media Line.