Gaza Storm Floods 70,000 Tents, Kills Five
A twelve-hour downpour destroyed shelters and left families with wet bedding, while the media office cites a lack of replacement structures.
By Grace Sullivan ·
A severe storm hit Gaza last week, flooding more than 70,000 tents and killing five people. The rain lasted for twelve hours and caused sand embankments to collapse and cracked walls to fall. Dozens of residents were injured in the incident, and two people remain missing. The Gaza Government Media Office estimated initial financial losses at over $3 million.
Nahla al-Majdoub, 48, lost her shelter at the port of Gaza. Her family has lived in the tent for nearly two years after Israeli ground forces destroyed their home in the north. Last week, strong winds tore the tarpaulin roof while the family slept. Al-Majdoub woke to the sound of thunder and water pouring in. She tried to push the water out, but it seeped through holes in the fabric. The structure eventually collapsed while one of her daughters was inside. The family moved to a neighbor’s tent and has used their soaked clothing and mattresses for four days.
Al-Majdoub was wounded in an air strike in October 2025. Shrapnel tore through her intestines, requiring artificial implants. She now takes weekly medication costing 170 shekels. The cold weather worsens her chronic pain. She also worries about her seven-year-old daughter, Aya, who has diabetes.
Sameh Doghomoush, 33, faced similar damage in the al-Sabra neighborhood. He and his wife, Sana, live in a partially destroyed house. Doghomoush spent two days reinforcing the roof and walls with tarpaulins. They placed basins under the largest holes, but the house flooded through broken windows within hours. The family could not sleep in the dark. All three of their sons caught colds.
Doghomoush lost his car, a fish restaurant, and most of his 180-square-meter home during the three-year war. He has spent his savings on food, firewood, and shelter materials. His children now ask for books and food instead of new clothes. He fears the weakened building may collapse and trap his family.
The media office stated that Israel systematically destroyed more than 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure, including sewage networks. Restrictions on the entry of shelter materials have compounded the situation. Municipal and civil defense teams are responding but face shortages of equipment. The office called for the opening of crossings to allow continuous entry of supplies.
The office said Gaza needs more than 100,000 new tents that can withstand winter conditions. It also requested tens of thousands of mobile homes and materials to repair drainage systems. The UN aid coordination office reported that about 65 percent of the population, or 1.4 million people, currently live in tents or makeshift shelters. Analyst Talal Abu Rokbeh said Israel currently occupies areas accounting for 70 percent of the Gaza Strip.
