Hamas leader calls for emergency international relief campaign for flood-hit Gaza

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya on Saturday called for an emergency international campaign to shelter Palestinians in Gaza as heavy rains flooded displacement camps and damaged thousands of shelters. In letters to Arab and Muslim countries, al-Hayya urged governments to secure the entry of tents, heating supplies, fuel and equipment needed to repair sewage and rainwater drainage networks, according to the Palestinain resistance group. He blamed the worsening humanitarian emergency on Israeli restrictions on aid and reconstruction materials, compounded by the destruction of homes and essential infrastructure.

Al-Hayya said Gaza's situation could no longer be treated merely as a temporary relief crisis or an inevitable consequence of war. He called for international pressure on Israel to fully implement the ceasefire agreement, including a complete withdrawal from Gaza and compliance with the humanitarian protocol signed in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Hamas leader also demanded unrestricted access for UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, as well as entry for the Palestinian national committee tasked with administering the territory.

His appeal included calls for funding to provide safe shelters, repair infrastructure and support reconstruction efforts. Al-Hayya also urged the UN Security Council to convene an emergency public meeting to address the worsening humanitarian crisis. Hamas said he contacted officials from countries mediating the ceasefire over the previous two days to press for urgent relief and implementation of the agreement. Over 200,000 Palestinians affected by flooding Heavy rains have flooded tents and temporary shelters across Gaza, exposing displaced families to cold weather amid shortages of protective supplies.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Friday that flooding had affected more than 200,000 Palestinians and damaged shelters housing over 40,000 families. The World Health Organization warned that 950,000 displaced Palestinians were living in flood-prone areas, including more than 400,000 in high-risk locations.