Sun Nov 16 22:26:27 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Faces Humanitarian Crisis as Rains Flood Makeshift Shelters, Ceasefire Uncertainty Looms
Gaza City – Displaced Palestinian families in Gaza are facing a dire humanitarian situation as heavy rains have flooded already inadequate makeshift tent camps, exacerbating the suffering caused by the ongoing conflict. The situation is compounded by restrictions on aid entering the enclave, with Israel continuing to block vital supplies like tents and mobile homes, according to UNRWA.
Reports from the ground indicate that thousands of families, many of whom lost their homes during previous Israeli bombardments, are now exposed to freezing temperatures and flooding in shelters that offer little protection. “Everything has started to leak,” reported Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, adding that some areas are completely submerged, with risks of buildings collapsing.
The Israeli military continues to target locations inside Gaza, even after the announced ceasefire, with at least three Palestinians killed in recent strikes. This ongoing violence has added to the uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telling his cabinet on Sunday that he “did not know how long the Gaza ceasefire would hold.” He also stated that the return of three captives by Hamas was expected.
UNRWA’s director of communications, Tamara Alrifai, stated that Israel imposes heavy restrictions on aid entering Gaza, banning items deemed to be of “dual use” and preventing much-needed supplies from reaching those in need. The UN agency, despite having enough supplies for 6,000 aid trucks, faces significant hurdles in delivering assistance.
The situation is further complicated by Netanyahu’s reaffirmed opposition to a Palestinian state, coinciding with a UN Security Council vote on a US-drafted resolution addressing a “credible pathway” to Palestinian statehood.
Meanwhile, violence continues in the occupied West Bank, with two young Palestinians killed during Israeli raids on refugee camps.
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