Palestinian Civil Defence representative Mahmoud Basal disclosed that at least 17 residential buildings have completely collapsed and 90 others partially collapsed due to severe rain and high winds that hit the enclave. Winter rains have also inundated 90% of the tents in the conflict-ridden enclave, displacing numerous families, as stated by the spokesperson.
Since the onset of the storms affecting the Gaza Strip last week, Civil Defence teams have fielded over 5,000 distress calls from residents, as reported by AL Jazeera online. Tragically, 17 individuals, including four children, succumbed to the cold, with additional casualties resulting from building collapses.
Save the Children, a UK-based humanitarian group, lamented its inability to deliver aid supplies to Gaza following Israel’s comprehensive blockade of the Strip since March. Despite a ceasefire starting on October 10, Israel has largely hindered aid access, including essential items like tents and blankets, amid the ongoing storms.
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces carried out raids, detaining at least 40 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. The arrests included a minor and former detainees, occurring across various governorates in the region.
A 16-year-old Palestinian was fatally shot by an Israeli settler in Tuqu’ town following the funeral of another teenager, as confirmed by the town’s mayor. An Israeli security source stated that the civilian opened fire in response to masked individuals hurling projectiles at Israeli vehicles on a main road, leading to the civilian’s detainment by Israeli authorities for questioning.
Tensions have escalated in the West Bank since the commencement of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, with a surge in assaults by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the region. The UN recorded a historic peak in attacks in October, emphasizing the urgent need for shelter assistance for approximately 1.3 million individuals in Gaza and warning of the heightened risk of hypothermia, especially for infants, in the current harsh weather conditions.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Palestinian relief agency, voiced concerns over the life-threatening impact of Storm Byron’s heavy rain and cold on Gaza inhabitants, underscoring the urgent need for support in the besieged enclave.