Mon Nov 17 16:51:36 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Faces “Most Dangerous Humanitarian Disaster” as Winter Rains Flood Makeshift Shelters
Gaza City – Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza are facing catastrophic conditions as heavy rains have flooded makeshift shelters, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation, the Gaza Government Media Office warned Monday. With Israeli restrictions on humanitarian supplies continuing, the office described the situation as “the most dangerous humanitarian disaster” since the start of the conflict, accusing Israel of “deliberately deepening the catastrophe” through its blockade.
According to the office, over 288,000 families are enduring a critical shelter crisis as tens of thousands of tents have been submerged by recent heavy rainfall. The situation has left residents exposed to the elements, lacking basic services, and enduring conditions that authorities say “no society can endure.”
The Gaza authorities estimate that 300,000 tents and mobile homes are urgently needed to provide adequate shelter, a figure they have been requesting for months. However, they claim Israel has prevented the entry of these essential supplies, despite a ceasefire agreement.
The UN has confirmed the widespread impact of the flooding, with over 13,000 households affected within hours of the first winter storm. UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, stated that it has ample supplies, including enough food to sustain Gaza’s entire population for three months, waiting in Jordan and Egypt. However, only about half the required 500 to 600 aid trucks are entering the territory daily due to ongoing Israeli restrictions.
UNRWA officials and international rights experts have condemned the restrictions, arguing they violate international humanitarian law and constitute a deliberate strategy to inflict suffering on the Palestinian population. Experts suggest the restrictions are a political act designed to pressure Hamas, despite the severe impact on civilians.
The Gaza Government Media Office is calling on international mediators, including the United States, to intervene and pressure Israel to comply with the ceasefire agreement and allow the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid. They accuse Israel of “reneging on implementing the humanitarian protocol” and holding them “fully responsible for the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced people.”
First Piper 