Humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens amid political deadlock
Heavy rainfall and falling temperatures have exacerbated the humanitarian situation in Gaza, killing at least six people and displacing over 200,000 as political disagreements between Israel and Hamas hinder reconstruction efforts.
This autumn's heavy rain and falling temperatures are exacerbating the humanitarian situation for civilians in Gaza. Torrential rainfall over the weekend killed at least six people, including children, according to UNICEF. Local authorities reported that at least 70,000 tents were flooded and more than 200,000 people affected.
The rain has turned displacement camps into muddy quagmires, making daily life even more difficult for those already displaced by the ongoing conflict. 'The entire area around us has turned into mud, so even leaving the tent has become difficult,' said Rawan Al-Omari, a mother of two living west of Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Aid teams have begun clearing blocked sewer lines and stormwater basins at 60 locations, benefiting an estimated 30,000 families, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). However, OCHA's partners warned there is insufficient space to relocate people from flooded areas due to Israeli restrictions.
Political deadlock stalls reconstruction
Despite a nominal ceasefire from October 2025, reconstruction efforts remain stalled amid disagreements between Israel and Hamas over disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawal. The US-brokered ceasefire established the Board of Peace (BoP) committee to oversee implementation and reconstruction, but little progress has been made.
According to a joint assessment by the World Bank, UN and EU, Gaza's recovery will require an estimated $71.4 billion over the next decade. Israel continues to carry out airstrikes, including a recent strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis targeting alleged Hamas members.
The failure of the Board of Peace to advance reconstruction, or even secure reliable relief, is fundamentally due to Israeli objections based on the insistence that Hamas has to completely disarm first.
International aid efforts face obstacles
The Board of Peace has called on Israel to improve humanitarian conditions ahead of winter, criticizing insufficient measures. Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported that 12 sewage vacuum trucks for the Red Cross and over 91,000 tents have entered Gaza in recent months.
However, the UN and international agencies accuse Israel of preventing the import of prefabricated shelters, with around 150,000 tents reportedly ready to be dispatched. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied responsibility, blaming Hamas for obstructing aid and potentially diverting supplies for military purposes.
Hamas rejected the criticism, accusing Israel of obstructing the peace plan and withholding humanitarian supplies. The political deadlock continues to prevent meaningful reconstruction and adequate preparation for winter conditions.
Civilians face devastating conditions
For Gaza's population, the political deadlock spells ongoing hardship as winter approaches. 'Children and families are facing devastating conditions, with around 1.2 million people, including more than 560,000 children, living in critical or catastrophic shelter conditions,' said Ahmad Alhendawi of Save the Children.
Available winter clothing covers less than 1% of needs, leaving hundreds of thousands exposed to hypothermia and respiratory illnesses. The UN Population Fund reports approximately 400,000 people, including 10,000 pregnant women, remain in high-risk flood zones.
With around 180 babies born daily in Gaza, the lack of dry, warm shelter poses immediate health risks to mothers and newborns. The approaching winter threatens to compound an already dire humanitarian crisis without immediate political resolution.
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