“A Different Invasion”: New Challenges Facing Israeli Soldiers

لبنان اليوم

The Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” reported that new soldiers and staff members at the “Alon” military base in the Upper Galilee were recently returned to the camp despite an outbreak of bed bugs, causing them significant harassment and health suffering.

According to the report, the spread of these insects was discovered last week, and as a result, the soldiers were temporarily sent home to carry out spraying operations, but they were forced to return to the base before the problem was completely addressed.

A female soldier who serves as a commander for the new recruits told the “Ynet” website: “At first, the commanders acted rationally and allowed us to leave, but then the rationality ended and they brought us back. Not all the buildings have been sprayed, and the soldiers are trying to deal with the pest themselves. We cover the mattresses with nylon, and when we wake up we see traces of blood from the itching.”

The female soldier pointed out that the base includes soldiers from special social backgrounds, many of whom are new immigrants who do not speak Hebrew well and live alone without family support, which makes it more difficult for them to deal with the situation. She added:

“This is not like the average soldier who returns to his parents’ home, some of them don’t even have a washing machine to wash clothes contaminated with bed bugs.”

When asked if they had informed the leadership of the problem, she replied: “The commanders are aware of the situation, but they say that the decision to return us to the base or continue spraying is not in their hands.”

For his part, the spokesman for the Israeli army stated: “After the soldiers complained about the presence of bed bugs at the Alon base, examinations were carried out by military health officials, and insecticides were used in various parts of the base.”

He explained that the extermination process will be completed during the coming days according to the plan, noting that the soldiers who were bitten received the necessary medical treatment, and that preventive spraying will be carried out for the rest of the base.