Heavy rain inundated camps across Gaza on Saturday, creating dire conditions for displaced Palestinians. The relentless downpour transformed roads into rivers, soaking families huddled in tents and forcing them to remove dirty water from their shelters. As cold weather sets in, the urgency of humanitarian concerns escalates for the enclave’s two million residents.
In a camp in Gaza City, Sana Abu Harad, 38, expressed her despair as she pointed to her shivering child and the soaked bedding on the muddy floor of their tent. “Everything is underwater,” she told NBC News. “Why must this little child sleep in floodwater? I struggled so much just to get this tent, and now nothing protects us. Where will I live with my children now?”
The situation is exacerbated by the collapse of water and sewage systems following two years of Israeli strikes, which have devastated essential infrastructure. With over 90% of the population displaced, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that more than 1.5 million people in Gaza urgently need emergency shelter assistance.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense agency, characterized the situation as a “true catastrophe.” He highlighted the severe environmental and health risks posed by the mixing of rainwater with sewage. “There is no sewage system, no rainwater drainage system, and no water reservoirs; all of them have been destroyed,” he told NBC News.
The United Nations reported last week that Israel has denied over 100 requests for the entry of essential relief materials, including blankets, winter clothes, and equipment for maintaining sanitation services. Such restrictions impede humanitarian efforts, according to Deputy U.N. Spokesperson Farhan Haq.
In contrast, COGAT, the Israeli body responsible for humanitarian aid in Gaza, stated on X that “hundreds of trucks carrying food, water, fuel, gas, medicines, medical equipment, tents, and shelter supplies enter the Gaza Strip every day.”
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the U.N. Security Council is poised to vote on a U.S. proposal for a U.N. mandate for an international stabilization force in Gaza. This proposal has faced opposition from Russia, China, and various Arab nations. Tensions have also escalated within Israel regarding a joint statement supporting the resolution, which advocates for Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
Far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s Cabinet, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have urged Netanyahu to distance himself from the concept of Palestinian statehood. Ben-Gvir called for a clarification that Israel “will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in any form,” while Smotrich emphasized the need for Netanyahu to convey to the world that such a state will never exist.
Netanyahu, who relies on support from ultranationalists to maintain his majority, reiterated at a government meeting on Sunday that Israel’s stance against a Palestinian state remains unchanged. “I don’t need reinforcements and tweets and lectures from anyone,” he stated.
The proposal for an international security force poses significant challenges for advancing negotiations related to the ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the governance of Gaza, as well as the return of Israeli hostages still held in the region.
As the storm continues to batter Gaza’s makeshift camps, residents face an uncertain future. Ma’in Albuhteiti, 50, sleeps with seven of his children in a tent in Gaza City. He recalled being awakened at 3 a.m. by the rain flooding their living space. “Look at the bedding, the furniture, and the state of things,” he said. “We were completely flooded, we couldn’t move. If there were proper shelter for us, we would go, we cannot manage. The situation is extremely tragic, and all the rain is pouring on us.”
