Intense rainfall has flooded the tent encampments of displaced Palestinians throughout Gaza, exacerbating the seasonal winter hardships faced by communities already ravaged by 13 months of warfare, as Israeli forces intensified their strikes in the area.
Overnight downpours inundated tents, with some being washed away entirely along with the plastic and cloth shelters utilized by displaced Gazans, many of whom have been uprooted multiple times due to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Some individuals placed water buckets on the ground to safeguard mats from leaks and dug trenches to divert water away from their tents.
Palestinian boys examine their tents, which have been damaged by wind and rain in Deir Al Balah.
Many of the tents that were in use at the beginning of the conflict have deteriorated and no longer provide adequate shelter; however, the cost of new tents and plastic sheeting has skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for families displaced by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
Ms. Sabea bakes bread in a wood-fuelled earth oven to support her children. Unfortunately, rainwater ruined her flour and damaged her oven, jeopardizing her ability to work.
“I was scared of life or death, and now we are worried about the rain,” she stated.
“The dough was drowning in water, and many mattresses were soaked. Rain was pouring on my head while I kept baking to feed my children,” Ms. Sabea told Reuters.
Several encampments near the beach experienced flooding, with high waves sweeping away some tents.
A displaced Palestinian girl is seen trying to stay warm between rainstorms.
“The sea took my little daughter, but thankfully we managed to save her,” said Mariam Abu Saqer, who used to reside in a tent by the beach before it was overwhelmed by seawater.
“Where are we supposed to go? No matter where we try, they tell us there’s no space,” she added.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reported that thousands of displaced individuals have been affected by seasonal flooding and called for new tents and caravans from aid organizations to protect them.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the first rains of winter signify even more suffering.
“Approximately half a million people are at risk in flood-prone areas,” it noted. “The situation will only worsen with each drop of rain, every bomb, and every strike.”
Israeli bombardment of Gaza intensifies.
Meanwhile, Israeli military strikes have escalated across the enclave.
In Rafah, southern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals, according to medics. Tanks have also deepened their incursions in the northern parts of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, and Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps.
Medics report that seven Palestinians were killed by two Israeli airstrikes in the Jabalia area.
Residents indicated that Israeli aircraft dropped new leaflets over Beit Lahiya, urging remaining residents to evacuate south, warning of impending attacks, and providing a map.
A Palestinian girl rests on the debris of a destroyed building west of Gaza City.
Residents reported that Israeli forces have demolished hundreds of homes since resuming operations in an area that Israel previously claimed was cleared of militants.
Palestinians assert that Israel appears intent on permanently depopulating the area to establish a buffer zone along the northern edge of Gaza—an accusation that Israel denies.
According to Gaza officials, Israel’s military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 44,200 people and has displaced nearly the entire population at least once, reducing vast areas of the narrow coastal territory to rubble.
The conflict erupted in response to a cross-border assault by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 250 hostages taken back to Gaza, according to Israeli reports.
Two Palestinians killed in Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.
In related news, the Palestinian Authority reported that two Palestinians, including a teenage boy, died during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank village of Yabad.
The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, stated that Israeli forces entered the village last night, leading to clashes during which Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinians.
The deceased were identified by the Palestinian health ministry as Muhammad Rabie Hamarsheh, 13, and Ahmad Mahmud Zaid, 20.
An Israeli military source claimed that during an IDF “counter-terrorism operation” in Yabad, two individuals allegedly threw explosives at IDF soldiers, prompting a fire response resulting in confirmed hits.
Last week, the Israeli army conducted multiple raids in the West Bank city of Jenin, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals, most of whom were Palestinian militants.
Violence in the occupied West Bank has surged since the onset of Israel’s war in Gaza last year.
According to the Ramallah-based health ministry, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 777 Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of the Gaza war.
Palestinian attacks against Israelis have also claimed at least 24 lives in the occupied West Bank during the same timeframe, as per Israeli official statistics.
Since 1967, Israel has maintained an occupation of the West Bank.
