The Civil Defense Authority in the Gaza Strip has issued a dire warning that the current severe weather system threatens to trigger a widespread humanitarian disaster, against the backdrop of a near-total collapse of services and infrastructure following months of Israeli military aggression
Spokesman Mahmoud Basal stated that the situation on the ground “cannot withstand any further deterioration,” emphasizing that strong winds and torrential rains could lead to significant loss of life. He highlighted the imminent danger of makeshift tents collapsing and already-damaged buildings completely giving way.
Dilapidated tents sheltering displaced Palestinian families in Gaza were flooded after a night of heavy rain and strong winds, as winter becomes a new challenges for Gazans who have suffered two years of Israeli genocide and now a fragile ceasefire.https://t.co/sOxoxBkRUx
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 16, 2025
“The destruction of most of our vehicles and equipment by the Israeli occupation, and the critical shortage of heavy machinery, pumps, and fuel, has crippled our ability to respond to emergencies,” Basal explained. He noted that thousands of families are exposed in low-lying, open areas without protection, left vulnerable to flooding and hypothermia.
Photos showing a fraction of the hardships faced by the displaced population in Gaza due to the recent winter storm, with Israeli occupation authorities continuing to block the entry of badly needed materials for reconstruction and temporary housing. pic.twitter.com/Q6AWenBjSH
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 16, 2025
The authority urgently appealed to the international community and humanitarian organizations for immediate intervention to provide safe shelter, stressing that “tents are no longer viable for habitation” under these conditions.
Echoing the warning, the Union of Gaza Municipalities detailed the escalating crisis. Its head, Yahya al-Sarraj, emphasized that the new weather system arrives as the Strip has not recovered from massive infrastructure destruction, severely worsening risks for residents and the displaced.
“The current weather is exacerbating the dangers threatening our people,” al-Sarraj said, warning of widespread tent flooding, especially in densely populated low-lying areas, due to a lack of safe shelter and heating. He reported that heavy rains on Monday evening alone flooded and swept away hundreds of tents in areas west of Gaza City, including the Chalets and Tel al-Hawa.
Heavy rain continues to fall across Gaza, worsening conditions for displaced families living in makeshift tents that provide no protection from cold or flooding.
As water seeps into shelters, families struggle to protect basic belongings, adding to the hardship faced by… pic.twitter.com/DuTatJZpjs
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 15, 2025
Al-Sarraj further highlighted that fuel shortages are paralyzing essential machinery and water pumping stations, compounding the catastrophe. He raised the alarm over potential collapses in structurally compromised buildings still housing displaced civilians, posing a direct threat to life.
Emergency and civil defense teams are operating with severely limited resources to mitigate damage and conduct rescues, as authorities emphasize that the window to prevent a major loss of life is closing rapidly.
Source: Palestinian media (translated and edited by Al-Manar)