Severe Weather in Gaza Claims Lives and Displaces Families
In a tragic turn of events, civil defense teams in the Gaza Strip reported on Tuesday, December 17, 2025, the deaths of 17 Palestinians, including four children, due to a severe weather system that has impacted the region, resulting in extreme conditions and numerous building collapses.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for civil defense, indicated that the severe cold directly contributed to the fatalities, while others lost their lives due to the collapse of structures weakened by heavy rain and strong winds.
Basal confirmed that over 17 residential buildings have completely collapsed since the onset of the severe weather, with more than 90 additional buildings experiencing significant partial collapses, endangering the lives of thousands given the fragile state of infrastructure and the worsening humanitarian situation.
Approximately 90% of shelters in the Gaza Strip have been inundated due to flooding, with all tents used by displaced individuals in various areas damaged and submerged, leaving thousands of families without temporary housing.
These conditions have resulted in the loss of clothing, bedding, and blankets, intensifying the suffering of residents, particularly among children and the elderly, amid a significant drop in temperatures and a critical shortage of essential supplies.
Basal noted that civil defense teams have received over 5,000 requests for assistance from citizens since the severe weather began, while the teams are struggling with limited resources to address the scale of the disaster.
He reiterated an urgent appeal to the international community and humanitarian organizations for immediate support to assist Gaza's residents and to provide emergency supplies, stressing that tents have proven ineffective against the harsh weather.
Basal urged relevant authorities and international organizations to refrain from distributing tents and instead prioritize immediate reconstruction efforts to provide safe housing that upholds human dignity and protects lives from future hazards.
Gaza is currently grappling with not only a winter storm but also a humanitarian crisis that necessitates prompt international intervention to prevent further loss of life.
