Israeli Soldiers. Israeli soldiers are seen on the border between Israel and Gaza. Israel launched a series of air strikes against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after efforts to extend the ceasefire failed Ilia Yefimovich/AP Images
A reported attack by a caracal wild cat on Israeli soldiers has gone viral among social media users in the Arab world.
Israeli authorities captured the animal after it attacked soldiers at a southern military base, according to Israeli state broadcaster KAN.
The Context
The incident happened amid rising anti-Israeli sentiment in the Arab world, fueled by Israel's renewed military campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza with the support of the United States.
What To Know
Thousands of social media users used the Arabic hashtag "The Egyptian Lynx" on X, following media reports that referred to a lynx - another kind of wild cat - and suggesting the animal might have crossed from Egypt, though this has not been confirmed.
Some Egyptian users referenced the symbolism of the lynx in ancient Egyptian mythology, where it was associated with the goddess Mafdet, who was regarded as a protector against snakes and other dangers.
Many Arab users on X shared comments about the caracal's role, using it as a symbol to voice frustration with both Israel and their own governments for failing to end the war in Gaza. Some users jokingly labelled the animal as "antisemitic", a "Hamas operative", or questioned whether it would be condemned.
Israeli broadcaster KAN aired a video Wednesday showing the capture of the "young female caracal" by the Nature and Parks Authority. The caracal was suspected of infiltrating a base near Har Harif, on the Israel-Egypt border, after biting soldiers at the base. KAN added that the caracal was captured after a long night chase, but without resistance.
The caracal, a wild cat known for its agility and hunting skills, typically avoids humans. While not globally endangered, some local populations, including in Israel, are vulnerable due to habitat loss.
Israel resumed its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza on March 18, blaming the group for the failure of ceasefire talks over the release of Israeli hostages. Gaza's Health Ministry reported on Saturday 673 deaths since then. It does not say how many of those are fighters.
The move signaled the end of a brief ceasefire that ended the previous 14-months long war, in which the Gaza ministry said killed more than 49,000 people. The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
What People Are Saying
A user by X by the name @docjazzmusic, who identifies himself as a Palestinian surgeon and musician posted: "The cat that attacked Israeli invaders in Gaza recently, was widely named 'Egyptian Lynx' here on X. No, this majestic animal is the caracal, widespread in the Middle East. It's not commonly aggressive towards humans. It made an excellent judgment call."
Another user, @Ro_gopa, identifying as an anti-Zionist Israeli-Yemeni researcher posted: "#The_Egyptian_Lynx is more honorable and noble than #The_Egyptian_Army. Its courage led it to attack several Israeli soldiers, while the Egyptian army has been killing children in front of it for a year and a half without taking any action."
Israel's Nature and Parks Authority: "A rare and unusual phenomenon – a caracal entered a military base in Har Harif, and unfortunately, it bit several soldiers. The caracal is a mysterious and rare animal, living in the Negev and Arava, but its sightings are extremely rare, and it tends to avoid humans. We still do not have an explanation for why it bit the soldiers; one possibility being that it was habituated to being fed or escaped from illegal captivity, and the bites are a result of this habituation."
What Happens Next
Fighting continues in Gaza, further deepening anti-Israel sentiment in the Arab world. Veterinarians transferred the caracal to intensive care in critical condition, hoping to release her back into the wild once her condition stabilizes.
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This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM.