West Asia

Hamas says Israel’s continued blockade and obstruction of the ceasefire’s humanitarian protocol have exacerbated the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip amid severe winter weather, flooding, and damage to shelters. In a statement released on Sunday, the Palestinian resistance movement said that the catastrophic effects of the winter storm across the Gaza Strip, including flooding in displacement camps and residential neighborhoods and damage to buildings, were a direct result of Israel’s ongoing siege and its obstruction of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement’s humanitarian protocol.

The Palestinian group further said the worsening winter conditions have intensified the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians living in damaged shelters and makeshift tents. Hamas said Israel continues to prevent the entry of urgent humanitarian supplies, including prefabricated caravans, repair materials, heating equipment, and civil defense supplies. It also criticized the inaction of the so-called "Board of Peace" and its executive director, Mladenov Nickolay, toward Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, saying their stance effectively provides cover for the continued violations.

The resistance movement called on the board to assume its humanitarian and moral responsibilities and take serious measures to compel Israel to fulfill its obligations and halt its ongoing violations. It further urged mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire to intensify efforts to ensure the full implementation of the humanitarian protocol, facilitate the flow of aid and shelter supplies, and exert pressure on Israel to allow the National Committee to enter Gaza and carry out its responsibilities without delay.

Hamas also called on the international community and Arab and Islamic countries to take urgent action to lift the blockade, ensure the delivery of essential supplies, including shelter materials, medicine, and food, and end what it described as international silence and inaction in the face of the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. The statement comes as the humanitarian crisis in the blockaded Palestinian region has been further exacerbated by severe winter weather, with heavy rains and strong winds damaging thousands of tents and shelters housing displaced Palestinians.

According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, flooding affected 70,000 tents, while nearly 400,000 displaced people are living in areas highly vulnerable to further flooding. The Palestinian Civil Defense reported receiving more than 1,500 emergency calls, warning that over 2,000 buildings were at risk of collapse and that at least 300,000 tents were needed to provide adequate shelter. The storm also caused an estimated $3 million in damage, further deepening the suffering of displaced families already struggling amid shortages of food, shelter, and essential humanitarian assistance.

The disaster comes as continuing Israeli restrictions on aid, shelter supplies, and reconstruction materials hamper relief efforts across the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.