JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL

Israeli soldiers deployed in the Gaza Strip are suffering from widespread skin conditions caused by bedbug infestations, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Friday.

Troops stationed in temporary outposts across the enclave have complained of severe rashes and constant itching, particularly at night, according to the report.

The paper said both regular and reserve soldiers, as well as units occupying damaged buildings turned into makeshift fortifications, have filed complaints. The problem has been reported mainly in central and southern Gaza, but troops in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood and Jabalia in the north have also voiced concerns.

“Soldiers have been suffering in silence for weeks, with itching that gets worse at night,” an unnamed reserve officer told the newspaper. He said the infestations spread through uniforms and sleeping bags, even among those not sleeping directly on the ground.

A soldier’s father recounted that his son tried to hide the bites until he noticed them during a break. “They were told these posts would be temporary for just a few weeks, but they’ve become permanent. They are living in filth, with waste just a few feet away. There is no justification for exposing them to such health risks,” he said, adding that stray cats and dogs in the area further increase the risk of disease.

The report highlighted that the poor sanitary conditions stem from troops’ living arrangements in abandoned or damaged structures, where there are no proper bathrooms.

Israel’s ongoing blockade has left large parts of Gaza plagued by unsanitary conditions and infestations, while hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war are forced to shelter in ruined buildings overrun by stray animals and insects.

The Israeli army has continued a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 64,700 Palestinians since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.