At Least 14 Killed as Storms Devastate Gaza Strip

The Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza has announced that at least 14 people have died and many others were injured following severe storms and heavy rains that hit the Gaza Strip. The strong winds and rainfall led to the collapse of houses and tents that had already been damaged by Israeli attacks and were serving as shelters for displaced residents.

According to Al Jazeera, the storm caused the most fatalities in northern Gaza overnight, with the collapse of a house in the Beir al-Naja area claiming five lives. On Friday morning, two more people died in the Remal neighborhood when a wall collapsed onto tents. Local officials said weakened and damaged structures were unable to withstand the rainfall.

The Gaza Ministry of Interior added that since the storm began, emergency responders have received over 4,300 distress calls and recorded at least twelve cases of building collapses. Most of these structures had already been damaged in previous Israeli strikes.

Relief agencies and humanitarian organizations have warned that continued rainfall is worsening the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Most residents of the strip are living without adequate shelter, and shortages of tents, fuel, and winter supplies are compounding the hardships faced by displaced people. International analysts say the lack of proper infrastructure and the long-standing blockade of Gaza are turning every natural disaster into a human catastrophe.