The Gaza Strip is experiencing a massive infestation of rats and large gerbils, particularly active at night. Some explain this phenomenon with a "conspiracy theory," claiming that Israel is sending large quantities of these rodents with trucks. Others say that the Israeli army is dropping rodents and insects on us from the Green Zones. What is really going on?

By Rewaa Alkhozondar
Another explanation is that we used to have laboratories and workshops that raised rats for research and dissection, and that these rats proliferated during the bombing. However, laboratory rats are completely different from gerbils (Norwegian rats), so what is the reason for their massive appearance? The occupation?  Or are there other reasons?

Firstly, it could be argued that jerboas naturally inhabit sewage lines and are purchased in many countries to clear blockages. They are used for a period and then disposed of in the same location once the job is done.

However, the Gaza Strip has witnessed a complete collapse of its infrastructure, with piles of rubble leading to the jerboas using the entire area as their burrows. Furthermore, we now see that Gaza lacks proper sewage infrastructure, so everything is exposed.

What's striking is the enormous size of these jerboas, some of which exceed a kilogram in weight. A single male and a single female can produce 100,000 jerboas in two years. This raises the question of who is feeding them and providing them with a suitable environment.

It could be argued that those who prepare food for the soup kitchens in Gaza are a major part of the problem. They cook lentils, rice, or canned goods like peas and beans, which are only good for photo ops because their taste and texture are inedible. Once the photo ops are over, they are discarded with the garbage, and we don't see any authority taking action. 

While they work to combat the accumulation of solid and organic waste, the municipalities in Gaza are limited to collecting money, selling land, and robbing people in every way possible... So, is the occupation responsible for the crisis?! Yes, but why was Gaza destroyed? And why was the infrastructure in the Strip targeted?

Who was promoting the term "Gaza above ground and underground" and sending footage and documentaries about the tunnels in Gaza...? What can be said is that everything we are experiencing and suffering is because of Hamas and its remnants...

Who is wasting resources and throwing food around?!  Aren't they the remnants of the old regime who collect funds to send abroad, selling their cash holdings for hard currency and then sending it back to their contacts overseas?

It can be said that the worsening crises in the Gaza Strip are the responsibility of Hamas, which exploits the situation for its own benefit, collecting and smuggling money by any means necessary, and refuses to relinquish control of the Strip and its weapons.

It ties the fate of the Strip and its people to its own, even if that fate means annihilation by a plague that threatens the lives of the people and neighbouring countries. The other party responsible is Israel, which is fully aware of what is happening to the people in the Strip but refuses to play its role in containing the crisis, contenting itself with the role of a mere spectator.

It should be noted that there are biological agents that can be sprayed on food, which don't kill the rats but rather make them sick, allowing them to infect their colony and cause mass deaths. There is also chemical castration using medication, which takes time but is effective.

However, before any solution can be implemented, the accumulated rubble in the Strip must be removed, and the garbage and public sanitation must be addressed.

This is an appeal before the start of the pandemic that will threaten the lives of millions.

Rewaa Alkhozondar is a Palestinian from Gaza and a writer on political and social issues. She has lived in both Congo and Ethiopia, experiences that have further shaped her global perspective. Rewaa is a strong advocate for women's issues and actively supports Palestinian women in challenging patriarchal mindsets within society. This is her first contribution to The Liberum.