The family of a man who took his own life while suffering post-traumatic stress disorder caused by army reserve duty in combat zones is demanding that he be recognized as a fallen soldier and given a military funeral.

Daniel Edri died by suicide early Saturday, with his family saying that for months he had shown mental trauma from time spent in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon during the recent fighting in both areas.

Though he had been recognized as having mental health issues from his service, and had applied to be designated as suffering from PTSD, the process had not been completed.

The Israel Defense Forces maintains that military funerals are only for those who die while actively serving either in the regular army or the reserves. Daniel was not in the reserves at the time of his death.

His mother, Sigal Edri, told the Ynet outlet on Sunday that her son would tell her he could see burning and smell bodies, sometimes waking from the night in violent fits as he thought he was in the middle of combat. He had also recently spoken of ending his life because, she said, he feared living with PTSD.

“I could see it coming the whole time, and I feared it,” she said. “We were always worried about him.”

Sigal said the family wants him to be buried in a military cemetery “as is fitting for him.”

“He lost his soul in military service and lost his life because of his military service,” she said. “If they couldn’t save his life, they must not desecrate his body and soul twice.”

Daniel had also lost two close........

© The Times of Israel