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Winter Storms Claim Lives as Gaza’s Displaced Struggle in Makeshift Shelters
Powerful winter winds collapsed walls onto flimsy tents housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza, killing at least four people, hospital authorities reported Tuesday. The tragedy highlights the dangerous living conditions that persist despite the ceasefire that has been in effect since October 10.
Among the dead were two women, a girl, and a man, according to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Three victims belonged to the same family—72-year-old Mohamed Hamouda, his 15-year-old granddaughter, and his daughter-in-law—killed when an 8-meter (26-foot) high wall collapsed onto their tent along Gaza City’s Mediterranean shore. At least five others sustained injuries in the incident.
“The world has allowed us to witness death in all its forms,” said Bassel Hamouda after burying his relatives. “It’s true the bombing may have temporarily stopped, but we have witnessed every conceivable cause of death in the world in the Gaza Strip.”
The Gaza Health Ministry also reported that a 1-year-old boy died of hypothermia overnight, marking the seventh cold-weather fatality since winter began. Previous victims included a 7-day-old infant and a 4-year-old girl, whose deaths were announced Monday.
Hundreds of tents and makeshift shelters were blown away or heavily damaged during the storm, according to the UN humanitarian office. Aid groups have consistently warned that Palestinians lack adequate shelter to withstand winter conditions, with insufficient shelter materials entering Gaza despite the ongoing truce.
In the central town of Zawaida, residents woke to find their temporary homes inundated with water. Yasmin Shalha, a displaced mother of five from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, struggled to repair her tent after strong winds had collapsed it during the night.
“The winds were very, very strong. The tent collapsed over us,” Shalha explained while stitching her shelter back together. “As you can see, our situation is dire.”
The situation was equally devastating along Gaza’s southern shore, where families watched helplessly as tents were swept into the Mediterranean Sea. Many attempted to salvage their belongings from the water while others hastily built sand barriers against the rising tide.
“The sea took our mattresses, our tents, our food and everything we owned,” said Shaban Abu Ishaq as he retrieved fragments of his tent from the surf in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis.
The majority of Gaza’s population continues to live in makeshift shelters after their homes were destroyed during the conflict. Palestinian rescue workers routinely warn displaced people against seeking refuge in damaged buildings, fearing further collapses, but alternatives remain scarce.
Mohamed al-Sawalha, a 72-year-old man from Jabaliya refugee camp, expressed frustration with the living conditions: “It doesn’t work neither in summer nor in winter. We left behind houses and buildings with doors that could be opened and closed. Now we live in a tent. Even sheep don’t live like we do.”
The United Nations and humanitarian partners are distributing tents, tarps, blankets, clothes, and hygiene items across Gaza, but these efforts struggle to meet the overwhelming need. Most residents remain unable to return to their homes in Israeli-controlled areas of the territory.
Meanwhile, violence continues despite the ceasefire. UNICEF spokesman James Elder reported that at least 100 children under 18 have been killed by “military means” since the truce began. These fatalities resulted from drone strikes, airstrikes, tank shelling, and live ammunition, with hundreds more children wounded.
“While bombings and shootings have slowed during the ceasefire, they have not stopped,” Elder said via video from Gaza City. “So what the world now calls calm would be considered a crisis anywhere else.”
The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 440 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began. Separately, Israel’s military reported an exchange of fire Tuesday with six individuals near its troops in southern Gaza, killing at least two in western Rafah.
This winter marks the third since the war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 71,400 Palestinians have died in Israel’s retaliatory offensive.
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9 Comments
The collapse of walls onto makeshift shelters is horrific. These families are already suffering so much, and now they have lost loved ones in such a preventable way. The world must do more to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
You’re right, this is an unacceptable situation. The international community has a moral obligation to ensure adequate shelter, food, and medical care for the people of Gaza, especially in these harsh winter conditions.
It’s heartbreaking to see the loss of life, especially young children, due to the extreme weather. The living conditions in Gaza are unconscionable. Urgent action is needed to provide proper housing and support to protect vulnerable populations.
The loss of life, including young children, due to these winter storms is truly heartbreaking. The people of Gaza have endured so much suffering, and these preventable deaths are a tragic reminder of the dire circumstances they face. The international community must do more to support them.
This is a horrific tragedy. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones in such a cruel way. The living conditions in Gaza are a stain on the conscience of the world. We must demand immediate action to address this humanitarian crisis.
The death toll from the winter storms in Gaza is devastating. This crisis highlights the urgent need for substantial investment in infrastructure and housing to protect vulnerable populations from the elements. The international community must step up support for the people of Gaza.
This is a tragic reminder of the desperate situation in Gaza. The world must come together to address the root causes of this humanitarian crisis and ensure the basic rights and dignity of the Palestinian people are upheld.
You make an important point. Providing immediate relief is critical, but long-term solutions are also needed to address the systemic issues driving this crisis. All parties must engage in good-faith efforts to find a just and sustainable resolution.
This is a tragic situation. The harsh winter conditions in Gaza are compounding the already dire living circumstances for many displaced Palestinians. Urgent humanitarian aid is needed to protect vulnerable families from the elements.