Heavy rainfall has inundated tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza, leading to destroyed shelters and ruined bedding, while critical shortages of aid and equipment are severely hampering relief operations.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office reported that approximately 70,000 tents were flooded within a 12-hour period, affecting tens of thousands of displaced individuals. While injuries have been reported, no fatalities have been confirmed as a direct result of the flooding.
The territory's civil defense service received 1,500 distress calls, and three abandoned homes collapsed without causing any casualties. Displaced residents were observed attempting to repair tents, reinforce them with sand, and evacuate children from submerged shelters. Olfat Magdoub, a resident, expressed the dire situation: "This is the first day of rain, and of course we are already flooded. What will happen if it rains again the next day? This is only the first day and we're already overwhelmed." She described previous instances of sleeping on wet blankets and the ground due to flooding.
Municipal and civil defense officials cited fuel shortages and damaged equipment as major obstacles to their response. They attribute the lack of resources, including essential vehicles for water pumping and repair, to destruction by Israel during its conflict with Hamas. This conflict has displaced over two million residents and left much of Gaza in ruins, forcing the majority of the population into tent camps.
Hamas has accused Israel of preventing the entry of necessary materials for shelters and repairs. COGAT, the Israeli military agency responsible for coordinating aid, stated on Friday that it had increased efforts to improve sanitary conditions in Gaza in anticipation of the expected rainfall, working with international organizations. They also noted the recent entry of four additional vacuum trucks through the International Committee of the Red Cross to assist with sewage pumping and waste management.
Despite a US-brokered ceasefire that called for reconstruction, progress has been minimal due to disagreements over terms for Hamas's disarmament and Israel's troop withdrawal. Displaced resident Rafiq Ghattas highlighted the lack of resources: "We have no resources, no tarpaulins, no tents and no one is checking on us." Palestinian authorities report over 74,000 fatalities in Gaza since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas-led attacks in Israel.
