‘Bioterrorism?’ A Resident’s Border Nightmare
For years, residents of Moshav Dekel, a small rural community nestled precariously close to both the Gazan and Egyptian borders, have been tormented by a catastrophic plague of flies. The infestation, described by locals as “out of control,” has fueled anxieties and desperate theories, with some residents pointing a finger towards potential “bioterrorism” emanating from across the volatile frontiers.
“I have a fly theory,” one long-term resident shared, her voice a mixture of frustration and conviction. “We have a crazy fly problem down here… I mean out of control fly problem. And not just flies that go after rotting vegetables. Biting flies. Crazy biting flies. Millions and millions of them.” She recounted the community’s exhaustive and expensive efforts to combat the winged menace: “We have been setting up fly traps of all makes and sizes, the Moatza [regional council] has used technology to sterilize them, tested manure to see where they might be breeding (no results), spent thousands of shekels trying to keep them under control, all to no avail.”
The unique and persistent nature of the infestation led her to a credible hypothesis: “I think, yes, just my opinion, that someone is manufacturing them. Either in Egypt or in Gaza,” she stated, noting the prevailing winds that blow inland. “Terrorism comes in many forms.” Adding to her suspicion was a peculiar observation: “All these years that we have been fighting this mess off, it actually stopped during the first year or so when the war was raging. Could it be that the factory was not working…?”
The flies themselves seemed alien. “These are not regular flies,” the resident explained. “They live longer than average flies and they don’t lay eggs anywhere in manure or vegetation. It has been tested. They aren’t deterred by wind or rain… they actually seem to increase with the wind. I wear protective clothing and they bite through it!” Her thoughts turned darker: “GMO flies? Only GMO pesticides work against them? But maybe the purpose of them is to make us be so bothered that we will decide to leave? I don’t know. I have no proof, but it’s something to think about. Bioterrorism?”
Another eyewitness from the region corroborated the severity of the issue, stating, “About 3-4 yrs ago the flies got so bad here. It was like from one summer to the next tons of big buzzing flies. We have traps up and they fill up within days. They are relentless and annoying. We thought it was because of our animals but the whole yishuv complains.”
Not Gaza, the Government
Then came the discovery that the swarm in fact did not originate in clandestine border activities, but from an official Israeli source, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The article, titled Why is Israel scattering millions of flies around Gaza?, detailed the astonishing truth: “A unique [Israeli] Agriculture Ministry initiative involves dispersing 33 million flies weekly over orchards and agricultural areas near Gaza.”
According to the report, these are not the biting scourges described by residents, but rather sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies, scattered from airplanes as part of a project claimed to naturally control this specific agricultural pest. “The male flies, which are sterile, mate with the female flies infesting the crops, thus preventing the creation of the next generation of fruit flies,” the Post explained. This “sterile insect technique (SIT)” is presented as an “environmentally friendly and chemical free pest control method,” run by Bio-Bee from Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu. The project is claimed to prevent the use of “some 33,000 liters of chemical pesticides.”
The Government’s Swarm: Official Claims vs. Resident Agony
The Jerusalem Post further noted that “As part of the maturing process of the male flies, they undergo sterilization in a radioactive facility,” and that Bio-Bee’s production facility was established in 2005 “with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).” The IAEA’s involvement stems from its mandate “to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.” The irradiation process used to sterilize the insects is a key component of SIT programs, which the IAEA supports globally as a method of pest control to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and “aid food security.”
However, this official explanation raises more questions than it answers for the suffering residents of Dekel. The primary discrepancy lies in the nature of the flies: the Agriculture Ministry speaks of Mediterranean fruit flies, primarily a pest to fruit, while residents describe “biting flies” that cause direct physical torment and seem unnaturally resilient. Are these 33 million weekly sterile fruit flies the only non-native flies being introduced, or are they merely one part of a more complex aerial assault on the local insect population, with disregarded but agonizing consequences for humans?
The sheer scale of dispersing 33 million insects weekly over an area of “some 35 dunams” (a possible misprint in the Jerusalem Post article, likely meaning a far larger area, as 35 dunams is only about 8.6 acres) is cause for concern. While the stated aim is pest control, could such a massive and continuous introduction of insects, even sterile ones targeted at a specific species, inadvertently bolster the overall fly population or create an environment where other, more aggressive species thrive?
The resident’s description of flies that “live longer” and “don’t lay eggs in manure or vegetation” does not entirely align with typical fruit fly behavior, nor does their aggression. Is it possible that the “biting flies” are a different species altogether, or are these sterile flies exhibiting unexpected behaviors or characteristics due to the sterilization or rearing process? Official claims say the sterile males “spring to life ready to mate,” but provide little information on other potential impacts or resident consultation.
‘Silly Girl’: Looking Closer to Home
Faced with this new information, the Dekel resident who had theorized bioterrorism offered a candid reflection: “I am always putting the blame on Egypt or Gaza. I forgot to look a little closer to home. What a silly girl I am.”
While her self-reproach is understandable, her experience and the ongoing suffering of the community highlight a significant disconnect: The “unique initiative” aimed at protecting crops appears to have unleased a different kind of blight on the lives of those living under the flight paths of these millions of government-dispersed insects. The grave question that remains is whether the authorities fully assessed, or transparently communicated, the potential for such a program to create entirely new forms of havoc and misery for the very citizens they claim to serve.
