Three Israeli soldiers stationed in the south of the country fell ill after consuming cookies suspected to have been laced with marijuana, as reported by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

The event took place on a Saturday night and is currently under investigation by the Military Police, according to Israel Hayom.

The affected soldiers reported stomach aches and were subsequently taken to an on-base clinic. They did not require any medical intervention, and the effects of the drug wore off within a few hours.

An IDF Spokesperson’s Unit statement on Sunday said: “Several reserves soldiers felt unwell after receiving food donations from civilians.”

“Procedures will be clarified to stipulate that troops are not to receive food donations outside of the regulated channels,” they added.

It was suspected that the cookies were spoilt. However, further investigation suggested that the cookies contained drugs, as reported by Ynet.

In the wake of the incident, the IDF is reviewing its protocols regarding food donations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Since the outbreak of war with Hamas on October 7 and hostilities with Hezbollah, thousands of Israelis have participated in donation drives, providing treats and gear for soldiers, especially reservists.

These donation activities often take place inside bases with IDF approval. However, some occur at roadside refreshment points where civilians hand out treats to soldiers.

The war, triggered by a brutal attack by the Hamas terror group 11 months ago, resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. This led to the sudden call-up of approximately 300,000 reserve soldiers.

In response to the crisis, many Israelis have stepped up to support the soldiers at the front lines and the tens of thousands of people evacuated from their homes.