Rainstorm collapses Gaza home killing five, death toll from storm rises to 12

• Five killed, others injured as a house collapses in Beir al-Najjeh, northern Gaza.

A violent storm sweeping across the Gaza Strip has claimed the lives of a total of 12 Palestinians and injured several others, causing widespread collapses of homes and tents amid severe shortages of resources and emergency services.

Local sources reported that two people were killed when a wall collapsed near Palestine Stadium in western Gaza City, while five others died and additional injuries were reported after a house collapsed in Beir al-Najjeh, Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza.

Civil Defense sources confirmed that two more people died when a large wall fell on displaced persons’ tents west of Gaza City, and an infant also died from extreme cold in the Al-Shati refugee camp.

Yesterday, four buildings in Gaza City collapsed due to heavy rainfall, raising fears over structurally damaged homes and emergency shelters. The Civil Defense warned of the dangers posed by buildings at risk of collapse, particularly those used by displaced families as temporary shelters, urging immediate evacuation to prevent further casualties.

The Civil Defense highlighted that structural damage in many Gaza homes leaves them vulnerable to collapse from water infiltration or continued heavy rainfall, advising residents to exercise caution and coordinate with authorities to assess building safety before occupancy.

Since early Wednesday, thousands of tents housing displaced families across Gaza have been flooded by torrential rains, with forecasts indicating that the storm will continue through Friday evening. The humanitarian crisis is compounded by severe shortages of basic necessities, limited access to aid, and restrictions imposed by Israel on assistance entering the Strip.

Civil Defense estimates that around 250,000 families live in dilapidated tents, exposed to cold, floods, and insufficient aid.

A government media office in Gaza previously reported that 93 percent of tents, about 125,000 of 135,000, are no longer habitable after two years of war, bombardment, and harsh weather.

The Ministry of Health also confirmed the death of 9-year-old Rahaf Abu Jazr, who drowned after her tent in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis flooded.

Hamas has blamed 'Israel' for the catastrophic conditions in Gaza, accusing it of neglecting its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. The group described the storm’s impact as a continuation of 'Israel’s' blockade and ongoing siege, urging mediators, Arab and Islamic countries, and international organizations to pressure Israel to allow aid delivery and reopen the Rafah crossing.

Despite the ceasefire that ended active hostilities on October 10, living conditions for Gazans remain dire due to strict restrictions on aid deliveries, leaving tens of thousands of tents damaged by both 'Israeli' bombardment and natural elements, including summer heat and winter storms.

The current storm underscores the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, where thousands of families remain exposed to life-threatening conditions in unsafe shelters.