Severe Weather in Gaza Claims Lives Amid Humanitarian Crisis

In a tragic development, civil defense teams in the Gaza Strip reported on Tuesday, December 17, 2025, that 17 Palestinians, including four children, have died due to a severe weather system affecting the region, resulting in extreme climate conditions and the collapse of numerous residential buildings.

Mahmoud Bessal, a spokesperson for the civil defense, stated that the freezing temperatures were a direct cause of several deaths, while others perished due to the collapse of structures weakened by heavy rains and strong winds.

Bessal confirmed that over 17 residential buildings have completely collapsed since the onset of the severe weather, with more than 90 others suffering significant partial collapses, posing a direct threat to the lives of thousands in an already fragile infrastructure and deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

He noted that approximately 90% of shelter centers in Gaza have been entirely flooded due to rising waters, with all tents used by displaced families across various regions damaged and submerged, leaving thousands without temporary housing.

These conditions have also damaged clothing, mattresses, and blankets, exacerbating the suffering of residents, particularly children and the elderly, amid sharply declining temperatures and a critical shortage of essential supplies.

The civil defense teams have received over 5,000 calls for assistance since the onset of the severe weather, as they struggle with limited resources to address the scale of the disaster.

Bessal reiterated an urgent appeal to the international community and humanitarian organizations for immediate action to assist Gaza's residents and provide emergency supplies, emphasizing that tents have proven inadequate to withstand extreme weather conditions.

He urged relevant parties and international institutions to refrain from reintroducing tents, calling for an immediate and urgent start to reconstruction efforts and the provision of safe housing that preserves human dignity and protects lives from recurring dangers.

Today, Gaza faces not only a winter storm but a humanitarian disaster that requires urgent international action before the death toll rises further.