Will Shakin, who fought in Gaza, took his own life: "Didn't receive support from the system"

Will (William) Shakin, an American who immigrated to Israel after October 7 and served as a fighter in Gaza, took his own life in New York. He was not recognized as suffering from PTSD during his service and did not receive support from the system, according to a volunteer at the "Newet" organization. His family requests to bring him for burial at Mount Herzl, but the Defense Ministry opposes due to his classification.

Will (William) Shakin, a U.S. resident suffering from combat trauma, immigrated to Israel after October 7 and served as a fighter in Battalion 13 in the Mahal track. Yesterday, he took his own life in New York. He lost friends who fought alongside him in Gaza, which affected his mental state. After completing his service, the staff of the "Benjamin's Home" center for lone soldiers contacted his parents, and Will returned with a close escort until his flight to New York, but the escort ended upon his arrival in the U.S. In a WhatsApp conversation with a friend, he spoke about his struggle with PTSD. Yesterday, contact was lost, his family and friends alerted the police, and his car was found in Manhattan with a suicide note. Chaim Meizlish from the "Newet" organization said that Will was not recognized as suffering from PTSD during his service and did not receive support from the system, and that the Defense Ministry demanded he return to Israel for committees, which was not possible. Meizlish noted that there are 1,200 open files of combat trauma victims in the U.S., and only two representatives handle them. His family requests to bring him for burial at Mount Herzl, but the Defense Ministry opposes because he was not defined as a combat trauma victim. Minister Ofir Sofer contacted the family.