The Israeli occupation has not limited its destruction in Gaza to people, homes and infrastructure on the ground. Residents in the north of the besieged territory are now reporting foul-smelling gases released from Israeli aircraft, adding another source of distress to an atmosphere already filled with dust from continuous bombardment and demolitions.
Residents of northern Gaza awoke early Wednesday to powerful, offensive odours after Israeli aircraft reportedly released hundreds of gas-filled bubbles across several areas. The substance spread through air already thick with debris and dust from ongoing explosions and attacks, reaching tents and shelters housing thousands of displaced Palestinians.
Gaza journalist Youssef Fares described the scene, saying: “A very foul smell covered the atmosphere of Gaza City during Tuesday night and into Wednesday, particularly in the eastern neighbourhoods of Al-Tuffah and Al-Daraj, extending as far as Beit Lahia in the west. It later became clear that occupation aircraft had dropped hundreds of bubbles carrying this smell across different areas with the aim of polluting the air.”
Writing on Facebook, Fares added: “Yes, even the air is too much for them to allow us.”
Dozens of displaced Palestinians in the affected areas also reported that the foul odour had entered their tents and temporary shelters, prompting fears over the possible health consequences of exposure.
Reports Across Gaza City and the North
Ayman al-Ramlawi, director of the Environmental Health and Occupational Safety Department at Gaza’s Ministry of Health, told Arabi21 that reports had arrived overnight from several areas of Gaza City and northern Gaza describing an extremely strong and offensive smell.
“I personally smelled it,” al-Ramlawi said. “The odour was not confined to one area. It was widespread across large areas.”
He said health authorities currently have no detailed information about the substance responsible for the smell or its composition, as Gaza’s severely limited capabilities have prevented specialists from obtaining chemical samples for analysis.
Asked about its potential danger, al-Ramlawi said it could not be ruled out that Israeli forces had used foul-smelling, toxic or other substances. However, he stressed that authorities were not yet in a position to determine the precise level of danger or identify the substance without laboratory testing.
“We cannot accurately diagnose its danger or determine the nature of its components until the substance is examined to identify its type, composition and concentration,” he said.
Al-Ramlawi explained that the effects of any airborne substance depend on its type, concentration and the duration of exposure. Potential symptoms may include irritation of the eyes and respiratory system, coughing, nausea and headaches, particularly among children, elderly people and those suffering from respiratory illnesses.
Regarding the possibility that the substance was toxic, he said: “We cannot rule out or confirm this possibility without laboratory analysis. At the same time, I would not exclude the possibility that the main purpose of releasing the substance was to produce an extremely foul smell, disturb people and make their lives more difficult, rather than for it to function as a toxic substance in the chemical sense.”
Previous Use of Skunk
Al-Ramlawi pointed to previous documented use of a substance known as “Skunk” by Israeli forces along the Gaza boundary during the Great March of Return demonstrations between 2018 and 2019.
He described Skunk as an extremely pungent and foul-smelling substance and said there was also documented information showing that Israeli forces had developed methods of dispersing substances of this type using drones.
However, he stressed that the substance recently released over Gaza has not yet been identified, meaning it remains unclear whether it was Skunk or a different material.
What Is Skunk Water?
Skunk Water, sometimes described as “Skunk liquid”, is a foul-smelling substance developed by the Israeli company Odortec and used by Israeli occupation forces as a crowd-control tool and as a means of collective punishment against protesters and Palestinian communities.
Its name refers to the skunk, an animal notorious for producing an exceptionally offensive smell.
The substance produces an intense and suffocating odour that has been compared to a mixture of decomposing bodies, sewage and faeces. The liquid primarily contains natural ingredients, including yeast and bicarbonate, alongside chemical compounds that cause the smell to adhere to surfaces and bodies for prolonged periods.
The odour is difficult to remove from skin and clothing. It can remain on a person’s body for several days and persist on walls, homes and other surfaces for weeks or even months despite repeated attempts at washing.
Israeli forces have used several methods to disperse the liquid, including high-pressure water cannons, smoke grenades and projectiles that burst and spread the pungent substance through residential neighbourhoods and densely populated areas, forcing residents from their homes.
Although Skunk is classified as a “non-lethal” weapon, exposure can cause substantial physical and psychological harm. Reported effects include severe nausea, persistent vomiting, stomach cramps, serious breathing difficulties, acute eye irritation and skin redness.
Israeli forces first used the substance in the occupied West Bank in 2008. Its use was later expanded to occupied Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, where it became another method used in the repression and harassment of Palestinians.
