- ‘Close to 15% of eye injuries among soldiers resulted in vision loss’.
- It has been reported that there was a lack of protective equipment for IDF soldiers last month.
Hundreds of IDF soldiers deployed in Gaza suffered severe ophthalmologic injuries, with some experiencing complete or partial vision loss in one or both eyes, as reported by Israeli news site, KAN News. According to KAN, a significant number of these eye injuries resulted from IDF soldiers not adhering to the use of mandatory protective gear, specifically eye protection equipment, amidst their onslaught on Palestinian men, women and children.
The eye injuries primarily occurred due to close contact with bullet shrapnel and recoil (the backward momentum of a discharging gun). However, some IDf soldiers also suffered direct hits from Hamas militants, as stated in the report.
15% of the injuries led to partial or complete loss of eyesight in one or both eyes.
KAN additionally reported that around 40 soldiers with eye injuries have been admitted to Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba since October 7. Five of them, with severe injuries, arrived at the hospital earlier this week, and two among them reportedly underwent surgery in the first week of December 2023.
In November, 2023, The Jerusalem Post reported that ophthalmologists from Soroka created a brief video to emphasise the military’s imperative to consistently wear protective goggles.
“The IDF is working to eliminate incidents in which soldiers who are required to wear protective goggles do not do so by regularly explaining [its importance],” the IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit said in response to the report.
