Heavy rain and floods sweep Gaza endangering shelters and damaged buildings

Floods have swept through Gaza following heavy rain, putting war-damaged buildings at risk of collapse and endangering displaced families. Al Jazeera reported that severe storms brought heavy rainfall and strong winds overnight, flooding shelters such as the al-Mina camp in northern Gaza. Displaced residents, including a mother with a two-month-old child, reported that rainwater drenched their tents, clothes, and bedding, leaving families exposed to severe cold. [1]

The latest flooding exacerbates an ongoing humanitarian crisis across the region. According to a report by the Palestine Chronicle, flood risks threaten nearly 950,000 people in Gaza amid continued restrictions on shelter materials. Additionally, the Siasat Daily reported that Israeli strikes have left Gaza buried under an estimated 68 million tonnes of rubble. [4][5]

The severe weather comes as residents face critical shortages of basic winter supplies. As FTMQ News reported earlier, more than 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza were living in damaged buildings marked for demolition, while Israel blocked essential shelter kits and timber. The Israeli Air Force has conducted numerous aerial bombardment campaigns across the territory during the war. [7][9]

Recovery operations in the region also remain hindered by the extensive destruction. As FTMQ News reported previously, Civil Defense officials estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000 bodies remained buried under collapsed debris across Gaza, with 1,000 bodies recovered by late October 2026. [10]