‘Her whole face was covered in blood’: 11 campers attacked by jackals at Sea of Galilee

Authorities said to be concerned at least one of the animals could be infected with rabies; all of those injured have been vaccinated and released from hospital

Eleven people, including three minors, were attacked by jackals overnight while camping on the Duga beach on the Sea of Galilee, reports said Saturday.

While the injuries were relatively minor, the Walla news site quoted local officials as saying that the behavior of at least one of the jackals was highly unusual, leading to fears that it could be infected with rabies.

Yelena, whose 12-year-old daughter Alice was attacked by one of the animals, said her child was traumatized after being bitten on her face.

“We were all sleeping in the tent, it was night. Suddenly, while we were asleep, my daughter Alice screamed: ‘It hurts! It hurts!’ She was really screaming. I quickly turned on the light, and her whole face was covered in blood. I was terribly scared,” Yelena said.

“I saw the animal that bit her, it was big, just huge,” she said.

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“They told us there were five jackals here on the beach, and many people were injured by them, but my daughter took it the hardest. Other people were bitten a little on the leg, but it bit her right in the face,” she said.

"התעוררתי מצרחות": 11 פצועים במתקפת תנים בכינרת, אליס ננשכה בפנים – חודש לפני בת המצווה

11 בני אדם פונו לטיפול רפואי אחרי שהותקפו במהלך הלילה על ידי תנים בעת ששהו בכינרת. מירה גנין מראשל"צ, שנכדתה בת ה-12 הותקפה, שיתפה: "לא הבנו מה קרה וראיתי חיה יוצאת מהאוהל שלנו. הדלקנו אור… pic.twitter.com/SZlbijaNv4

— ynet עדכוני (@ynetalerts) June 13, 2026

Yelena said her daughter was taken to hospital by ambulance and given vaccinations and stitches to the wound on her face before she was released.

“She’s in a state of crazy fear now. She’s just traumatized,” Yelena said. “It’s heartbreaking, because in less than a month she has her bat mitzvah, and just a few days from now, she has her school graduation party.”

All of those who were attacked were taken to hospital for treatment, including vaccinations, and were later released, reports said.

The Nature and Parks Authority told the Ynet news site that it was investigating the attacks, and that it was checking whether the campers had been attacked by stray dogs or jackals.

“It is important to seek medical treatment due to the risk of contracting rabies,” the authority said.

There have been several reports of animals infected with rabies in the north of the country in recent months.

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