Symbolic imageStorm floods 70,000 tents of displaced people in Gaza
Heavy rain flooded about 70,000 tents in Gaza on Saturday, according to local authorities. Rescuers say they lack the equipment to respond.
The first winter storm began early on 7 November. Gaza's civil defence received about 1,500 distress calls in 10 hours, with water rising 30 to 40 cm at several sites. Dozens of weakened walls and roofs collapsed, injuring people, some critically, the Government Media Office said. Civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said premature babies, the elderly and the sick are most at risk, and appealed to the international community, saying crews work without equipment.
Shelter shortage
The media office holds Israel “fully responsible” and puts initial losses at about $3m. Le Monde notes that Israeli authorities have barred prefabricated homes and limited tents since the October 2025 ceasefire. Gaza's emergency committee says about 200,000 tents are needed for more than a million displaced people.
Buildings and hospital
Rescuers evacuated a partly collapsed building in Nuseirat, and a wall fell in the north, injuring two people, according to Wafa. Al-Shifa's director said its emergency department was out of service for about four hours.
Other opinions
Al Jazeera relays the Gaza authorities' blame on Israel, while Le Monde describes the media office as Hamas-controlled. Israel's position does not appear in the sources.