Dozens of nations, organizations demand Israel let more winter supplies into Gaza
The United Kingdom, Qatar and Jordan led a coalition of more than 50 countries and organizations on Friday, calling on Israel to provide immediate entry of critical items for shelter, fuel, water, sanitation and health to Gaza, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that surging respiratory illnesses in the enclave would worsen after heavy rains flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians. The 53 signatories said too many people in Gaza “risk exposure to hypothermia, respiratory infections, waterborne diseases and other preventable illnesses” with winter’s arrival.
The statement echoed recent criticism of the situation in the enclave by the Board of Peace and UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. Meanwhile, the WHO’s representative for the Palestinian territory Dr. Reinhilde Van De Weerdt warned of the growing number of cases of respiratory illnesses in the Strip. “Acute respiratory infections are 33,000 cases higher than at the same time last year,” she told reporters in Geneva from Jerusalem. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms Poor living conditions and severe overcrowding are driving up infections as Gaza’s population is squeezed into an ever-smaller area, the global health authority said, with the crunch worsened as the Israeli military shifts the so-called “Yellow Line” — a demarcation established under October’s US-brokered ceasefire.
Palestinians walk along a street lined with tents sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, November 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) “That means people are living in more crowded conditions, where of course the spread between humans of a virus is much more prone to spread,” Van De Weerdt explained. The Israeli military and COGAT, the Defense Ministry body overseeing Gaza, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Last week, COGAT said that it had stepped up efforts to improve sanitary conditions in Gaza before the heavy rain, in coordination with international organizations.
The agency said Friday that more than 93,000 tents and 8,600 trucks carrying “winter supplies and other essential equipment” had entered Gaza. COGAT continues its winterization efforts, in coordination with the @BoardOfPeace , the @UN and international organizations, to address winter-related humanitarian needs in Gaza. So far, over 93,000 tents and more than 8,600 trucks carrying winter supplies and other essential… pic.twitter.com/iui4ZB3rnf — COGAT (@cogatonline) November 13, 2026 Israel has said that allegations that COGAT is not allowing in enough supplies “divert attention from Hamas’s responsibility.”
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article gives COGAT's figure of more than 93,000 tents and 8,600 trucks, and Israel's line that the complaints "divert attention" from Hamas. It never reports what the UN's humanitarian coordinator said that week: 150,000 tents were stuck in aid lorries outside Gaza while stocks of shelter and winter items inside were exhausted. It also omits the Norwegian Refugee Council's report that Israel allowed only 15 trucks of "dual-use" items from Jordan a week. Without these facts a reader takes COGAT's tally as a sign that enough shelter is getting in, when the UN said far more was being held outside.
How we know
- Middle East Eye reported“said this week that 150,000 tents in aid lorries were stuck outside Gaza, while stocks of essential shelter and winter items inside the enclave were exhausted”More than 50 British MPs demand fresh sanctions on Israel over Gaza aid obstruction (opens in a new tab)
- Middle East Eye reported“Israeli authorities were allowing just 15 trucks carrying items Israel considers to be "dual-use" into Gaza from Jordan once a week”More than 50 British MPs demand fresh sanctions on Israel over Gaza aid obstruction (opens in a new tab)
Advertisement Hamas municipal and civil defense officials have said they were unable to cope with the storm because of fuel shortages and damage to equipment. They said Israel had destroyed hundreds of vehicles, including bulldozers and others used to pump water, during its war against Hamas, and has since barred the entry of construction equipment during the ceasefire. Israel is reportedly digging in over allowing the entry of so-called dual-use items, which it says can be exploited or weaponized by Hamas and other terror groups in the Strip.
Additionally, Israel has said it will not allow reconstruction work to begin in Gaza until Hamas agrees to disarm and relinquish control of the enclave. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office insisted that Israel was doing what it could to allow winter equipment into Gaza, and that Hamas, not Israel, was not honoring its commitments. ‘The worst really is yet to come’ Respiratory infections currently make up 11% of all consultations, the WHO said, with the agency expecting cold weather, flooding, overcrowded shelters and poor ventilation to push these numbers higher.
“It is shocking that just a few days of rain really showed us what the coming months will bring. And winter has not even fully set in. The worst really is yet to come,” Van De Weerdt said. Nearly a million displaced people in Gaza live in flood-exposed areas, and 400,000 of them are in locations that are considered at extremely high risk, according to the WHO. A Palestinian child sits beside a pool of rainwater at a camp for displaced people in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, November 7, 2026. (AP Photo/ Abdel Kareem Hana) The agency said flooding heightened the risk of contaminated water, while standing water gave mosquitoes and pests more places to breed.
Advertisement Damp conditions also promoted the growth of mold and bacteria, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, sparticularly among young children, it said. While the majority of medicines are getting into Gaza, the WHO faces difficulty getting laboratory supplies, which it says are vital for diagnosing patients before they can be treated. “To prevent outbreaks, we really call to let laboratory equipment enter Gaza today, so that we can avoid a public health disaster on top of a disaster.”
Your next read: ToI Editors' Picks LIMITED TIME OFFER: Join The Times of Israel Community today and you'll receive a physical book of your choice, carefully curated by our editors. Choose between two must-reads: When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief and strength following unthinkable tragedy; Or Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe by Matti Friedman, the gripping and surprising tale of a forgotten moment during World War II.
As a Community member, you’ll also enjoy our DocuNation series of outstanding Israeli documentary films, an ad-free experience of our site and podcasts, commenting privileges, and more. CHOOSE YOUR BOOK CHOOSE YOUR BOOK Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this You're a dedicated reader We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE , as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel Join Our Community Join Our Community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular 1 Report: Netanyahus want state to continue funding home improvements even if PM leaves office 2 Contradicting Trump, Netanyahu’s office says Israel will ‘gradually’ move off US military aid 3 Two Iranian men found guilty in UK of spying on dissident journalists on IRGC’s behalf 4 Israeli blood test detects early breast cancer with 95% accuracy 5 Ancient tunnels that helped Jewish rebels evade the Romans now open for tourists 6 Eisenkot receives security briefing after accusing Netanyahu of refusing to grant one 7 Eisenkot says Netanyahu refusing to give him security briefings, asks AG to intervene 8 IDF targets top Hamas commander in strike on south Gaza hospital; 6 said killed read more: Israel & the Region humanitarian aid 2023-2025 Israel-Hamas war Gaza Strip flooding displaced people WHO World Health Organization public health If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY Already a member? Log in here close popup Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community Sign in or Register Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles Email address * Please use the following structure: example@domain.com Continue Or Continue with By joining you agree to the terms and conditions Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition back close popup Register to continue Email address * Change REGISTER Or Continue with back close popup Log in to continue Email address * Something went wrong.
Please try again in a few minutes.. Continue back close popup Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community Sign in or Register You are currently registered. Please join The Times of Israel Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits Only ToI Community members can comment below articles Email address * Password * Incorrect password. Please try again or choose an option below. Forgot your password? / Send me a login link Continue Sign in without joining Or Continue with close popup Check your email We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. back close popup Join The Times of Israel Community Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits. Email address * Please use the following structure: example@domain.com JOIN NOW! close popup Thank you! Now check your email You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community!
We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Read the original article on timesofisrael.com (opens in a new tab)