Suspected rabid jackals attack campers, leaving 11 injured including child bitten on face

An unusual overnight incident at the Sea of Galilee left 11 campers injured after they were attacked and bitten by jackals near Duga Beach. Magen David Adom received a call at 2:52 a.m. on Saturday and dispatched medical teams to the scene.

Several injured individuals, including a 12-year-old girl, two men in their 30s, and a woman in her 40s, were evacuated to the Baruch Padeh Medical Center Poriya with bite wounds. They received treatment, vaccinations, and were subsequently released. Two other individuals were treated on-site and did not require hospitalization.

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My daughter Alice screamed, ‘It hurts! It hurts!’ I quickly turned on the light, and her entire face was covered in blood. I was terrified

Elena, the mother of 12-year-old Alice, described the terrifying experience. "My daughter Alice screamed, ‘It hurts! It hurts!’ I quickly turned on the light, and her entire face was covered in blood. I was terrified," she recounted. "I saw the animal that bit her. I saw it clearly. It was big - enormous, in fact. They said there were five jackals on the beach, and many people had already been injured by them." Alice's injuries were the most severe, requiring four injections and three stitches on her face.

Officials are concerned that the jackals' atypical behavior suggests a possible rabies infection. Dr. Noa Shacham Hadari, head of the emergency department at the hospital, stressed the importance of immediate medical treatment and vaccination for anyone bitten or in contact with a wild animal. The Health Ministry reported 66 cases of rabies exposure in animals this year, with dogs being the most frequently reported. The incident has left the family shaken, particularly with Alice's bat mitzvah and school graduation ceremonies approaching.

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I saw the animal that bit her. I saw it clearly. It was big - enormous, in fact. They said there were five jackals on the beach, and many people had already been injured by them. Unfortunately, my daughter's injuries were the most severe.