11 Injured After Jackal Attack at Sea of Galilee Campsite

Eleven holidaymakers, including three minors, were injured overnight Saturday after jackals entered the tent area at Duga Beach on the Sea of Galilee and attacked campers. The wounded were taken for medical treatment and given preventive rabies vaccinations, and most were later released home.

Authorities said the animals were likely drawn by food left accessible around the tents. During the panic, several people were scratched and bitten. Inspectors and police were called to the scene and worked to drive the animals away from the beach.

One victim was 12-year-old Alice, who was bitten in the face while sleeping in a tent. Her grandmother, Mira, said, "We were sleeping together in the tent and at two in the morning she suddenly screamed." She added, "We opened the light and saw her whole face was bleeding with bite marks. She is upset about how she will look, in a month she has a bat mitzvah and maybe she will need plastic surgery. We are hurt that the vacation ended like this, it is frightening."

After the incident, the Health Ministry and the Nature and Parks Authority warned the public that this was an exposure event involving an animal suspected of rabies. They said the suspect jackal has not yet been caught, and urged anyone who had contact with wildlife in the area to seek immediate medical attention or contact a health office. The ministry stressed that rabies is a dangerous and fatal disease, and reminded pet owners to ensure their animals are vaccinated by law. Dr. Noa Shacham Hadari, head of the emergency department at Poria Medical Center, called on the public to avoid contact with wild or stray animals, especially where children and vacationers are present. Yossi Nava, head of the Kinneret Cities Association, said the group views the incident seriously and asked the Nature and Parks Authority and veterinary services to urgently reduce the jackal population in the area and step up nighttime enforcement.