GAZA/THE HAGUE: Authorities in Gaza warned on Monday that more war-damaged buildings could collapse due to heavy rain, worsening conditions in the already devastated enclave. The weather has also hampered efforts to recover bodies still trapped beneath rubble.
Read More: Winter rains drown Palestinian refugee shelters in Gaza
At least 12 people were killed on Friday when two damaged buildings collapsed during a storm, according to local health officials. The severe weather also flooded tents, washed away shelters, and caused deaths from exposure among displaced families.
One of the worst rainstorms that Gaza has experienced in years started yesterday evening. The rain hasn’t stopped, camps are flooding, and tents are breaking.
If you see this reply with a dot pic.twitter.com/PoDpiuxWUm
— Nermeen from Gaza (@Nermeenalswaisi) December 14, 2025
Although Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October after two years of intense fighting, humanitarian agencies say aid entering Gaza remains far below what is needed. Nearly the entire population has been left homeless, relying on fragile shelters.
Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal urged the international community to provide mobile homes and caravans instead of tents. He warned that without proper shelter, more families could be killed as weakened buildings continue to collapse.
One of the worst rainstorms that Gaza has experienced in years started yesterday evening. The rain hasn’t stopped, camps are flooding, and tents are breaking.
If you see this reply with a dot pic.twitter.com/6InJuP7sdC
— Nermeen from Gaza (@Nermeenalswaisi) December 15, 2025
One such collapse killed children from the family of Mohammad Nassar, whose six-storey building had been badly damaged earlier in the war. Nassar said he returned home to find rescuers struggling to retrieve the bodies of his 15-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter from the rubble.
The United Nations has made urgent calls for increased humanitarian access. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said heavy rain and cold had put displaced families at extreme risk, with collapsing ruins exposing people to freezing conditions.
UN officials estimate at least 300,000 new tents are urgently required for around 1.5 million displaced people. Gaza authorities also say nearly 9,000 bodies remain buried under debris, but a lack of heavy machinery is slowing recovery efforts.
Read More: Heavy rain floods Gaza camps as winter looms
Meanwhile, appeals judges at the International Criminal Court rejected Israel’s bid to halt an investigation into alleged war crimes. The ruling allows the probe to continue, keeping arrest warrants against Israeli leaders in place.