Heavy rains have inundated thousands of tents across the Gaza Strip, forcing displaced Palestinian families to seek shelter from the cold as the season's first winter storm batters the besieged territory. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported receiving approximately 1,500 distress calls within a 10-hour period following the onset of the downpour early Saturday.

The storm has exacerbated the already dire conditions for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict. Water levels in several shelter sites reportedly rose by 30-40 cm (12-16 inches), submerging tents and belongings. Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defence, stated that some shelter centers were completely flooded, compelling all occupants to evacuate into uncertain conditions.

Basal highlighted that premature infants, the elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly vulnerable. He expressed grave concerns, noting that individuals residing in tents face constant risks of death and illness due to the severe weather. Footage circulating from camps in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah depicted families navigating ankle-deep water, with sodden mattresses and blankets strewn about, and children standing barefoot in muddy, sewage-filled puddles.

The storm's impact extends beyond flooding, as it has also caused the collapse of structures damaged during Israel's military operations. The Civil Defence confirmed the evacuation of residents from a building in the Nuseirat area that partially succumbed to strong winds and rain. In northern Gaza, a separate building's wall collapsed, injuring two individuals, according to the Wafa news agency.

Nour Khaled, reporting from a camp in Gaza City, described the scene, questioning the resilience of makeshift shelters against such weather. She noted that over 28,000 widows are among those facing the harsh winter conditions with their children.

Rami Abu Taima, reporting from Khan Younis, indicated that rain began in al-Mawasi, a coastal area housing over 900,000 displaced individuals, on Friday evening. He observed hundreds, potentially thousands, of tents flooded across the Gaza Strip. Families situated along the coast are at heightened risk of their temporary shelters being washed away by the sea.

Gaza's emergency committee has warned that more than one million displaced people are confronting the dangers posed by winter. The scale of displacement, with a significant portion of the population living in tents and inadequate shelters, makes them exceptionally susceptible to the impacts of severe weather events.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, characterized by widespread displacement and destruction, means that basic infrastructure for shelter and sanitation is severely compromised, leaving vulnerable populations exposed to environmental hazards like the current winter storm.