Updated: 8 Palestinians Die in Gaza Due to Collapses from Weather System

SadaNews - Eight Palestinians have died due to collapses in various areas, as a weather system hits the sector amidst a severe shortage of resources and aid.

A source in emergency services reported the death of five individuals and injuries to others from the collapse of a house in Bir al-Najjah in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip.

Additionally, sources in the civil defense reported the deaths of two people due to a large wall falling on the tents of displaced individuals west of Gaza City early this morning.

A baby also died as a result of the severe cold in the al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.

The death toll now rises to ten within 24 hours.

Yesterday, four buildings collapsed in various areas of Gaza City following heavy rains in the sector.

The civil defense warned of the dangers of collapsing damaged buildings that displaced families have sought refuge in, especially with the weather system hitting the sector, which brings rains that cause soil erosion and additional cracks in walls and columns that were damaged by previous bombings.

The Ministry of Health announced yesterday the death of a child, Rahaf Abu Jazar, due to the cold and rain which led to flooding of the tents of displaced individuals in the Mawasi area in Khan Younis.

This weather system comes at a time when displaced individuals are experiencing a tragic situation due to the lack of basic living conditions and difficulty accessing essential supplies, alongside the decline in vital services due to the Israeli blockade.

Despite the efforts of service entities and individual initiatives to mitigate the impacts, the scale of suffering exceeds available resources, making the worsening conditions for the displaced almost inevitable.

About 250,000 families are living in displacement camps in the Gaza Strip, facing cold and floods inside worn-out tents amidst a shortage of aid, according to previous statements from the civil defense.

Most of the displaced have taken refuge in damaged tents, while the government media office in Gaza estimated at the end of September that about 93% of the tents are no longer suitable for shelter, with 125,000 out of 135,000 tents no longer usable.

Hamas Accuses the Occupation of Neglecting Its Responsibilities

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has held the Israeli occupation responsible for the tragic conditions experienced by the residents of the Gaza Strip, accusing it of neglecting its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas stated that the Gaza Strip is facing a real disaster with the intensification of the weather system's impact, considering what the Palestinians are experiencing as an extension of the Israeli genocide due to the ongoing blockade and the prevention of reconstruction that protects them from the weather impacts.

The spokesperson for the movement, Hazem Qassem, called on intermediaries and guarantors of the ceasefire agreement to pressure Israel to allow the entry of necessary shelter materials and to open the Rafah crossing in both directions.

He also called on Arab and Islamic countries, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take serious and effective action to save the Gaza Strip from this catastrophic situation caused by destruction and successive weather systems.

Despite the ceasefire going into effect on October 10, the living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza have not improved due to the strict restrictions imposed by Israel on the entry of aid trucks, violating the humanitarian protocol of the agreement.

Over nearly two years of genocide, tens of thousands of tents have been damaged by direct Israeli shelling or targeted surroundings, while some have deteriorated due to natural factors such as high summer temperatures and winter winds.