Harsh Conditions at Israeli Military Base Spark Outrage

Just days after reports of prolonged power outages at the Sayarim military base near Eilat, new evidence and testimonies obtained by *N12* today (Tuesday) paint a grim picture of neglect, crumbling infrastructure, poor hygiene, and inadequate conditions.

A mother of a female soldier serving as a squad commander at the base recounted the dire situation: "Yesterday, there was no electricity at the base near Eilat for the entire day. My daughter returned exhausted from a nighttime training exercise and had nowhere to sleep. The rooms had no air conditioning or cold water. The power only came back in the evening. It’s unacceptable that soldiers are left without basic conditions in 40-degree heat."

The mother added, "Last week, there were three days of outages, and now it’s happening again," she complained. "Beyond that, the base is neglected. Soldiers with injuries have to wait ten days to see a doctor. I sent my daughter to serve in a combat role, but there’s a limit. At an IDF base, not a warzone in Gaza, they deserve at least humane conditions."

Another female soldier described the appalling conditions in the dining halls and kitchens: "This is the lowest standard the IDF can provide. The food is crawling with flies and cockroaches. Within minutes of eating, we’re running to the bathroom with stomach issues, diarrhea, and vomiting. It happens all the time."

She explained that the combination of sleep deprivation and recurring power outages makes the service unbearable. "We’re in a squad commander course, training at night and supposed to sleep during the day," she said. "But during the day, there’s no air conditioning or electricity, so we can’t sleep. Yesterday, the power only returned at 8 p.m. The soldiers are exhausted, waking up every hour drenched in sweat, unable to rest properly."

Another mother, whose daughter is also in the squad commander course, shared disturbing footage sent by her daughter: "The images from the base are horrifying. Filthy bathrooms, a dead pigeon near the kitchen, cockroaches around the food. The girls are expected to clean up this mess. Some are getting sick, others are fainting from the heat and lack of air conditioning, yet they’re still required to deal with this health hazard. It’s a real danger."

Multiple videos and photos from recent weeks show cockroaches near food, a dead pigeon close to the kitchen, and piles of uncollected garbage. Parents report that the extreme heat, frequent power outages, and lack of basic amenities are leaving soldiers exhausted, ill, and, in some cases, requiring hospital treatment.