Gaza Faces Severe Shelter Crisis Amid Ongoing Conflict, Authorities Warn of Growing Danger.

As winter approaches, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is escalating, with over 288,000 families facing shelter shortages due to severe flooding and ongoing restrictions on vital supplies. Local officials report that recent heavy rainfall has compounded the challenges of displacement and inadequate living conditions that have persisted since the war began, raising urgent calls for international assistance and intervention. The gravity of the situation highlights the resilience of the Palestinian people, who continue to endure amid overwhelming adversity and strive for safe and dignified living conditions.

In Gaza, more than 288,000 families are currently navigating a severe shelter crisis, caused by ongoing Israeli restrictions that have significantly hampered humanitarian efforts. The territory’s Government Media Office reported that heavy rainfall over the past few days has inundated tens of thousands of makeshift tents, plunging displaced Palestinians into dire conditions described as unsustainable by local authorities.

With winter conditions worsening, the Government Media Office described the situation as “the most dangerous humanitarian disaster” since the onset of the conflict, emphasizing that Israeli actions have exacerbated these challenges through the systematic blockade of essential materials. “We strongly condemn this ongoing crime committed by the [Israeli] occupation against civilians,” a government statement read, holding the occupying forces fully accountable for the suffering endured by hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals.

The torrential rains began last Thursday as the region faced its inaugural winter storm, leading the United Nations to confirm that over 13,000 households were affected within hours. Conditions continued to deteriorate over subsequent days, overwhelming the temporary shelters that have housed families for nearly two years. According to reports, many displacement camps are situated at lower elevations, causing floodwaters to encroach from every side. Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud noted that some areas are now completely submerged.

Gaza authorities have deemed it imperative to acquire 300,000 tents and mobile homes to adequately address shelter needs, a requirement they have consistently reiterated for months. However, despite a ceasefire effective as of October 10, Israeli authorities have continued to impede the entry of these necessary supplies.

The United Nations estimates that over 80 percent of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the course of the conflict, compounding the issue of widespread displacement. Rights experts have described the Israeli military campaign as tantamount to genocide, citing the United Nations’ definition, which includes the deliberate infliction of unsustainable living conditions on a specific group.

On Monday, Gaza’s Government Media Office accused Israel of explicitly maintaining its blockade on the entry of tents and related supplies, keeping border crossings closed while failing to implement previously agreed humanitarian protocols. The Israeli military agency, COGAT, responsible for coordinating humanitarian aid, has repeatedly denied claims of restricting assistance.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, recently characterized the ongoing situation in Gaza as “misery on top of misery,” warning that the region’s precarious shelters are failing to cope with the rain and flooding, ruining families’ belongings in the process. The UNRWA has reported having sufficient supplies in Jordan and Egypt to fill 6,000 trucks, enough to sustain Gaza’s population for three months, but Israeli restrictions have meant that only half the required daily aid trucks have been permitted entry.

Furthermore, restrictions have extended to basic educational supplies, such as pens and notebooks, which remain barred from entry into Gaza. Aid organizations had already warned that approximately 260,000 Palestinian families—nearly 1.5 million people—were at risk as winter loomed on the horizon.

Senior UNRWA official Natalie Boucly asserted that Israel’s ongoing restrictions violate international humanitarian law, referencing the Fourth Geneva Convention and a recent International Court of Justice ruling that obligates Israel to ensure Palestinians have access to essential supplies. During a visit to aid warehouses in Jordan, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that Israel had “no excuse” for delaying humanitarian assistance.

Professor Mukesh Kapila from the University of Manchester emphasized that the restrictions appear to be politically motivated rather than logistically necessary. He remarked that accessing Gaza should not be complicated in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, calling the situation a deliberate political maneuver designed to exert pressure on Hamas while inadvertently prolonging human suffering.

In light of these alarming developments, Gaza’s Government Media Office has called upon U.S. President Donald Trump and other countries mediating the ceasefire to urgently intervene and ensure compliance with humanitarian commitments. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 266 individuals have lost their lives since the beginning of the ceasefire, despite the ongoing violence in areas where Israeli forces were expected to withdraw.

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