GAZA CITY, Palestine / ISTANBUL

Three Palestinians were injured in the Gaza Strip on Thursday as heavy rains inundated hundreds of tents sheltering civilians displaced by Israel’s two-year war on the Palestinian enclave, medical sources said.

The sources said a wall fell onto a tent on Al-Wehda Street in central Gaza City due to strong winds and heavy rains, injuring three people.

According to local sources, heavy rains flooded hundreds of tents and shelters, particularly in western parts of Gaza City, worsening conditions for thousands of displaced families already facing severe shortages of basic resources.

Hossam Mhana, a spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, said the flooding exposed the fragility of displacement sites, which lack the capacity to withstand harsh weather.

He said destroyed infrastructure, especially drainage systems, caused water to accumulate in streets and seep into tents and shelters, while strong winds uprooted and damaged many of them.

Municipal crews are working around the clock with limited tools and resources to mitigate the impact of the storm, Mhana added.

He warned of deteriorating health and environmental conditions if the storm continues, particularly due to the mixing of rainwater with sewage in some areas.

About 1.9 million people in Gaza, out of a population of 2.4 million, remain displaced and live in harsh conditions in worn-out tents after their homes were destroyed during the war.

Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, living conditions have not significantly improved, amid Israel’s failure to allow the agreed levels of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and shelter materials.

The war in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured about 172,000 others, and has caused widespread destruction affecting around 90% of civilian infrastructure.

*Writing by Lina Altawell