Gaza Palestinians endure winter hardship as attacks persist amid tent life

Palestinian families displaced across Gaza City are struggling to sustain daily life as winter weather compounds the misery of makeshift tent encampments. With residential infrastructure overwhelmingly destroyed during Israel's two-year military campaign, hundreds of thousands remain confined to temporary shelters lacking insulation, running water, or adequate sanitation.

Relentless Conditions, Limited Aid

Residents report that heavy rains have flooded tent floors while fuel shortages prevent adequate heating or cooking. Humanitarian supplies entering the strip remain insufficient for the population's vast needs, and aid distribution is frequently hampered by ongoing military activity. Despite a ceasefire formally in effect since October 2025, Israeli forces continue operations that have killed at least 591 Palestinians and wounded over 1,578 others, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Generations Displaced

Many families have been uprooted multiple times since October 2023, fleeing from one bombed neighborhood to another before settling in informal camps along roadsides or atop rubble. Parents describe children growing up knowing only displacement, while the elderly recount having survived multiple wars—none as destructive as the current one. The UN estimates Gaza's reconstruction will require $70 billion and take decades.