Heavy rains leave tens of thousands without shelter in Gaza

Gaza city has been flooded by heavy rains, leaving hundreds of thousands of displaced people without shelter. The Hamas-run government reported that about 70,000 tents, housing tens of thousands of displaced individuals, were flooded on the first day of the rain. This flooding has resulted in the collapse of dozens of cracked walls and roofs, causing injuries, some critical, across various areas in Gaza.

The civil defense spokesman, Mahmoud Bassal, reported receiving over 1,500 calls during the night from residents seeking urgent assistance after their tents were flooded. The agency is currently operating without any equipment or capabilities, calling for the international community and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to save hundreds of thousands of displaced people from the flooding of their tents.

Local residents expressed their distress, with one woman stating that they were unable to save their mattresses and all their clothes were soaked. Another resident emphasized the repeated suffering during winter, while a father worried about his children's protection from the cold and the spread of diseases.

A coalition of Palestinian civil society organizations warned of a looming catastrophe, highlighting the risk of disease outbreaks and epidemics. They demanded pressure on Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid entry. Despite a fragile ceasefire since October 10, 2025, following the war that began with Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel continues airstrikes and ground operations on a daily basis.

Mustafa Qazzaat, a council member and emergency committee official in Gaza City, stated that Israel has not allowed prefabricated homes to shelter the displaced since the truce was announced, only permitting limited tent entry. He emphasized Gaza's urgent need for 200,000 prefabricated homes, alongside heavy machinery to remove rubble, open main roads, and provide immediate electricity and heating.