A Palestinian woman covers her head with a cardboard box as she walks under the rain in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on 25 November 2025 (AFP.Bashar Taleb)
Heavy rain submerged displacement tents in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, deepening the suffering of Palestinians already struggling with the hardships of being uprooted.
The downpour turned camps in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis into pools of mud and water, making movement nearly impossible, local media reported.
Floodwater seeped into many tents, endangering families and their few remaining belongings.
Cold weather has compounded the misery of children and the elderly, amid severe shortages of blankets, winter clothing and heating.
Weather conditions are worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis for hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
Israel's two-year genocidal war on Gaza has destroyed nearly 300,000 homes, forcing almost all of the territory's 2.3 million residents into displacement.
At the same time, Israel's blockade has restricted the entry of tents, mobile homes, winter clothing and heating equipment.
The ceasefire agreement signed with Hamas last month stipulated that around 300,000 tents and mobile homes should be allowed in.
However, Israel continues to block the majority of essential shelter items.
Ramiz Alakbarov, UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, warned that the situation in Gaza remains "bleak".
He called for an urgent international effort to scale up humanitarian assistance as people continue to endure "unbearable living conditions".
He said over 1.7 million people remain displaced, many crammed into shelters with limited access to water, food and medical care.
"The UN and its partners are still facing major challenges in providing shelter materials such as tents and blankets," Alakbarov said.
"As we enter the winter months, these delays must be urgently resolved."
He added that hospitals continue to struggle without reliable electricity and water, urging Israel to expand crossing capacity and expedite the clearance of supplies, including UN aid.
Gaza's Government Media Office said Israel is allowing just 200 aid trucks a day, far below the 600 agreed under the ceasefire.
It called the violations "clear evidence of a continuing, deliberate starvation policy".