Wild desert lynx attacks Israeli soldiers in Naqab desert
Authorities say the location of the Israeli military base may have affected the lynx's behaviour, resulting in the incident
A caracal, also known as desert lynx, was captured last week after attacking Israeli soldiers in the Naqab Desert.
The wild cat was found near Mount Harif on Tuesday, close to an Israeli military base on the border between Israel and Egypt, says The New Arab.
A Nature and Parks Authority supervisor spotted the caracal and transported it to a wildlife hospital for a medical examination.
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In a statement, the authority warned the public against approaching or feeding wild animals, as this can alter their natural behaviour and pose risks to both animals and humans.
"The Nature and Parks Authority would like to remind the public that they should not approach or feed wild animals since this can cause a change in their behaviour that is dangerous to both the animals and human beings," the statement said.
Authorities suggested the caracal's unusual behaviour may have been influenced by its proximity to the military base, which could have made it accustomed to human presence, leading it to come close to the soldiers and bite them.
The incident sparked widespread reactions on social media, with some users jokingly referring to the caracal as a "Hamas operative," referencing Israeli claims that many people in Gaza are affiliated with the group.
Others praised the caracal for attacking the Israeli soldiers, citing Israel's onslaught on Gaza which has killed over 61,700 Palestinians and levelled entire neighbourhoods.
"This lynx has done more for Palestine than every Muslim government on Earth. All while keeping to its natural diet of 'small animals including rodents'," one person commented.
Some even called for Israel to "free the lynx" after it was captured, using the incident to highlight the thousands of Palestinians detained and taken to unknown locations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
"Israel has culled six million lynx since the incident," another said.
This is not the first time Israeli soldiers have been attacked by wildlife in recent times.
In May last year, 12 Israeli soldiers were stung by a swarm of wasps after their tank ran over their nest in southern Gaza.
At least 10 of the soldiers were admitted for treatment, and one of them was transferred to the intensive care unit.
Israeli media reported that some of the soldiers had allergic reactions to the stings, and had "never dealt with such a mass incident before".
