{
  "id": 15878004,
  "title": "Mysterious recurring stench adds to Gaza's misery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/mysterious-recurring-stench-adds-to-gazas-misery",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T11:18:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/21/mysterious-recurring-stench-adds-to-gazas-misery/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saber Zaqout awoke one morning to an overwhelming sewage-like smell in his home in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. The family searched various possible sources, including the bathroom and sleeping children, but found no explanation. Later, Zaqout learned that similar odors were reported in Gaza across the strip. Civil defense teams have reported the smell repeatedly in recent weeks, sparking confusion and anxiety among residents. Many people, especially the elderly, children, and the sick, have complained about the foul odors. Civil defense officials suspect Israeli forces are responsible, claiming they used a foul-smelling substance similar to \"The Skunk,\" a liquid known to disperse Palestinian protesters, including during the Great March of Return in 2018. A resident in northern Gaza, Moamen Abu Jayyab, also noticed the smell after a month, attributing it to an extremely foul smell akin to toilets and sewage. Abu Jayyab initially thought the camp's toilets or sewerage system had caused the problem, but later heard rumors that the Israeli military had released the substance. The Ministry of Health in Gaza lacks the necessary equipment to identify and analyze the substance, which could have detrimental effects on the environment and public health, particularly for vulnerable individuals. The smell has exacerbated the already challenging conditions of displacement and insecurity for Gaza residents.",
  "summary": "Saber Zaquot awoke early one morning recently to find a foul, sewage-like smell filling the house in Nuseirat camp, central Gaza , where his family lives. At first, the family checked for the most likely sources. “We became anxious and thought the smell might be coming from the bathroom, or even from the children while they were asleep,” Mr Zaqout told The National . “We checked everything…",
  "key_points": [
    "Residents of Gaza experience recurring sewage-like smell.",
    "Civil defense teams suspect Israeli forces responsible.",
    "Ministry of Health lacks equipment to identify substance."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The presence of an unidentified, foul-smelling substance across Gaza intensifies the existing public health crisis and environmental risks for vulnerable populations living under constant displacement and insecurity.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Mysterious recurring stench adds to Gaza's misery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/mysterious-recurring-stench-adds-to-gazas-misery-15880274",
        "published": "2026-10-21T11:18:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}