Watan-The Israeli media revealed that around 100 Israeli soldiers were injured in their eyes, with some of them experiencing blindness, during the ongoing battles with Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.
According to the Hebrew channel “Kan,” dozens of soldiers suffered severe eye injuries, and some were blinded,
requiring hospitalization. This was attributed to the failure to wear protective eyewear during the conflict.
The channel emphasized that Soroka Hospital in Beersheba has started fundraising efforts to purchase glasses for the soldiers. Soroka Hospital alone has received approximately 40 cases.
עשרות לוחמים נפגעו קשה בעיניים, חלקם אף התעוורו – בגלל אי שימוש במשקפי מגן • בביה”ח סורוקה גייסו כסף, קנו משקפי מגן ומסרו אותם לחיילים בעזה | הפרסום של @kettydor #חדשותהערב pic.twitter.com/zmBQNIPPiX
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 6, 2023
According to reports, between 10-15% of the injuries have resulted in blindness in one or both eyes. The revelation of 100 soldiers being injured in their eyes follows the announcement of 18 Israeli occupation soldiers contracting the disease trachoma (“dysentery”), prompting their evacuation from Gaza to a training base for medical treatment, as reported by the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Doctors attribute the spread of the bacteria among the occupation forces to a lack of cleanliness and food donations from the public. Many restaurants and Israelis have been sending food to the occupying soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
In a related context, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation stated that 2,000 soldiers have received psychological assistance since the Operation Aqsa Tempest began on October 7th of last year. Among them, 200 sought help during the first three weeks of the ground operation in Gaza, which commenced on the 27th of the same month.
The report adds that between 75 to 80% of these soldiers, classified as battle-injured, have managed to return to their units in the field and continue their participation.
As of now, the Israeli army has acknowledged the death of 411 soldiers and officers since October 7th.