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“The deteriorating situation in Gaza poses a serious threat not only to civilians but also to the lives of our soldiers and the 130 prisoners held there,” Public Health Physicians Association. Levin witnessed first-hand the diseases and infections brought back by the returning captives and stressed the need for urgent humanitarian assistance. “Because of the dire situation on the ground, the captives are returning with their lives in danger.”
Professor Hagai Levin, president of the Association of Public Health Physicians and head of the medical system at the headquarters for prisoners’ families, stressed the possible consequences of uncontrolled diseases in Gaza, asserting: “It is not in Israel’s interest to allow an epidemic to run rampant in Gaza. It endangers our soldiers, but most importantly, it endangers the prisoners. With 130 prisoners in an area with deteriorating sanitary conditions, we are facing an unprecedented situation that requires immediate action to safeguard their lives.”
What harm might these deteriorating conditions cause to the captives?
“The physical damage to the returning prisoners was obvious,” Levine explained. “Due to poor sanitary conditions, especially in cramped tunnels with poor ventilation, prisoners brought back salmonella, intestinal bacteria, lice, and scabies. Some developed serious infections from untreated wounds. These insidious infections can penetrate the bloodstream and bone, may require surgery, and can be fatal if not treated promptly.”
How has this crisis impacted our soldiers?
“Our soldiers are not immune, although their exposure is mitigated by the fact that they receive water and food from Israel,” Levine noted. “However, we have witnessed outbreaks of Shigella — a cause of dysentery and an increased risk of meningitis — Gaza Camp. Although we occasionally encounter Shigella outbreaks in Israel, we have not seen such outbreaks in military camps for a long time. This is a direct result of the deteriorating conditions on the ground. “There are always difficulties in the military, and any outbreak that leads to intestinal poisoning will undoubtedly hinder military operations.”
Levin added another worrying factor: “The soldiers also have to deal with dangerous asbestos structures in Gaza, which the IDF has detonated during operations, releasing high levels of Toxic particles… This does pose a danger. Protecting the health of our troops requires protecting the environment in which they operate. This is in Israel’s best interest. Those who inject unprofessional political considerations into this matter are engaging in short-sighted politics that could exact a heavy toll.”
In times of war, working in such an environment can become very demanding and a balance must be struck between safety and health considerations.
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