Children and families in Gaza faced dire conditions as they tried to cope with heavy rains on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Displaced Palestinians were seen scooping muddy water from their tents in Deir al-Balah, struggling to salvage what little belongings they had left after enduring two years of conflict. Many families were left ankle-deep in water, and residents expressed frustration towards both Hamas and Israel for their dire situation, despite a ceasefire being in effect.
Assmaa Fayad, a resident of Deir al-Balah, lamented the destruction of her shelter: “All tents were destroyed. Where is Hamas? Where are the people to see this rain and how our children are drowning?” This sentiment was echoed by the humanitarian community, which is concerned that the ongoing winter rains would exacerbate the already critical humanitarian crisis and worsen shortages of essential supplies.
Approximately 2 million people in Gaza have been displaced due to the prolonged conflict, with many now living in tents or makeshift shelters. These structures often sit atop the remnants of destroyed homes, and residents have inadequate sewage facilities. For sanitation, they resort to cesspits dug near their tents, which easily overflow during heavy rainfall.
Reham al-Hilu, another resident affected by the rain, reported that her wooden and metal shelter collapsed under the rain, injuring her head. She added, “Rainwater flooded the mattresses. As you can see, everything is soaked — the clothes, everything — and my children are all soaked.” According to the United Nations humanitarian office, over 13,000 tents have been damaged by the recent downpours, which have largely devastated whatever temporary shelter and belongings remain for thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
Aid organizations have been working since early October to prepare for winter conditions, following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. They managed to transport winterized supplies into Gaza, distributing more than 3,600 tents, 129,000 tarpaulins, and 87,000 blankets earlier in the month. However, the delivery of these supplies has been severely restricted by Israeli authorities, impeding effective humanitarian assistance.
On Tuesday, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for unhindered access to lifesaving humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Israeli defense body responsible for humanitarian aid, COGAT, announced efforts were underway to address winter needs and claimed that additional aid requests had been approved for entry shortly.
The heavy rains transformed roads in Deir al-Balah into shallow rivers, making navigation perilous. Families attempted to manage the flooding by using cloth to soak up the water, demonstrating the urgency of their situation. Although hostilities have largely ceased, Israel continues to strike parts of Gaza, claiming the actions are in response to violations attributed to Hamas, with both sides alleging breaches of ceasefire agreements.
As conditions worsen, many displaced Palestinians remain crowded in areas of Gaza still under their control, further complicating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
