Heavy rains flood displaced persons' camps in the Gaza Strip

On November 7 and 8, 2026, torrential rains caused severe flooding throughout the Gaza Strip, destroying tens of thousands of shelters for displaced persons. According to the Hamas government press office, approximately 70,000 tents were flooded, leaving countless families without protection. Several structural collapses of buildings with existing cracks were reported, resulting in multiple injuries, including some victims in serious condition.

The Gaza Civil Defense reported receiving over 1,500 emergency calls during the night as hundreds of families fled inundated camps in the northern and central parts of the territory as well as Gaza City. Civil defense officials indicated they are operating without proper equipment or resources to handle the scale of the disaster.

In response to the crisis, the Palestinian Embassy in Cyprus called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. They are demanding the immediate entry of winter supplies and proper housing materials. Local authorities and humanitarian groups characterize the situation as a life-or-death crisis, as displaced civilians, including children and the elderly, remain exposed to freezing temperatures and mud without basic shelter.