Storm collapses damaged buildings in Gaza, killing at least four Palestinians

At least four Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Monday night and Tuesday as buildings weakened by earlier Israeli airstrikes collapsed under the force of a powerful winter storm. The victims included an elderly man, a child, and two women, with several others injured in separate structural failures across Gaza City.

Storm Exposes Structural Damage and Shelter Crisis

The collapses occurred as heavy rainfall and strong winds from a low-pressure system battered the coastal enclave. The storm has catastrophically impacted the vast displaced population, flooding and destroying thousands of makeshift tents, particularly in coastal areas. In central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, thousands were forced to seek shelter in mosques and partially damaged buildings after their tents were torn apart.

Official Warnings of Catastrophic Shelter Shortage

Gaza’s Government Media Office stated that approximately 127,000 of the 135,000 tents housing displaced families are now uninhabitable. Director Ismail Al-Thawabteh warned of a critical shortage of blankets and heating supplies, exceeding 70%, leaving families exposed to freezing temperatures, rain, and moisture. He emphasized that the polar cold wave has laid bare severe deficits in basic survival necessities.

Condemnation and Broader Casualty Context

The Palestinian group Hamas stated that the continued deaths from exposure and collapsing infrastructure demonstrate that “Gaza is still experiencing the most severe forms of genocide,” condemning the international community for failing to ensure adequate aid delivery. These latest deaths occur within the broader context of the conflict; the Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 71,400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 171,000 injured since October 2023, with hundreds more killed despite a ceasefire that began in October 2025.