Heavy rainfall has flooded tens of thousands of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in crowded encampments across the Gaza Strip, washing away temporary shelters and soaking blankets and mattresses, local authorities said Saturday.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office reported that at least 70,000 tents had been flooded over the previous 12 hours, affecting tens of thousands of displaced people and causing injuries. No deaths had been reported.
Gaza’s Civil Defense Service said it had received 1,500 distress calls from displaced residents. Three abandoned houses also collapsed, but no injuries were reported.
Families Struggle to Protect Their Children and Belongings
At a tent encampment in Gaza City, residents struggled to repair their damaged shelters. Some used sand to reinforce the tents and prevent water from entering, while others worked to rescue their children from flooded sleeping areas.
Olfat Magdoub, a Gaza resident, tried unsuccessfully to sweep rainwater away from her tent.
“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 said.
“Two weeks ago when it rained, I swear to God, I spent four days sleeping on blankets spread on the floor because the rainwater had flooded the bedding. Same now, the mattresses are wet so we sleep on the ground.”
Municipal and civil defense officials said they were unable to respond adequately to the storm because of fuel shortages and damage to essential equipment.
They said Israel had destroyed hundreds of vehicles, including bulldozers and equipment used to pump water, during its war against Hamas. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million and left large parts of the territory in ruins. Most residents now live in tent camps.
Hamas accused Israel of preventing shelters and construction materials from entering Gaza.
COGAT, the Israeli military agency responsible for coordinating aid, did not immediately respond to the accusations. In a statement issued Friday, however, it said it had intensified efforts to improve sanitary conditions across Gaza ahead of the expected heavy rainfall, in coordination with international organizations.
Limited Equipment and Slow Reconstruction Efforts
COGAT said four additional vacuum trucks entered Gaza this week through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), joining eight others delivered over the previous month. The vehicles are intended to support sewage pumping, weekly waste collection, and repairs to water and sewage infrastructure.
A ceasefire brokered by the United States last year included provisions for the eventual reconstruction of Gaza, but little progress has been made. Negotiators have yet to reach an agreement on the disarmament of Hamas or an Israeli troop withdrawal. Israeli forces control approximately two-thirds of the territory, from which residents have been ordered to leave.
“We have no resources, no tarpaulins, no tents and no one is checking on us,” said displaced resident Rafiq Ghattas, who was standing barefoot in the middle of a large pool of rainwater.
More Than 74,000 Palestinians Reported Killed
Palestinian authorities say more than 74,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive following the October 7, 2023, attacks, when Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel.
