The war against Hamas in Gaza has caused a profound and lasting negative impact on civilian sleep, even among individuals not directly exposed to combat, a study released on Tuesday found.
Hebrew University researchers noted sharp increases in insomnia, short sleep duration, and reliance on sleep medication among Israelis during the 2023-2024 Israel-Hamas war.
The study found about a 20% rise in the prevalence of short sleep (less than six hours nightly) and a similar jump in clinically significant insomnia. It also cited a 5% increase in the use of sleep medication.
According to the study, these sleep disruptions persisted even six months into the conflict, suggesting that the impact on sleep may extend beyond immediate responses to acute stress and reflect longer-term consequences of living under sustained threat.
The survey was carried out even before the 12-day war against Iran this month. During this relatively short conflict, Israelis all over the country were repeatedly awoken from their sleep at all hours of the night. Air-raid sirens warned of incoming Iranian ballistic missiles more frequently than at any time during the war with Hamas.
