Post by : Maya Rahman

Storm Byron has struck the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of at least 14 individuals and injuring numerous others as fierce winds and heavy rainfall wreak havoc on fragile homes and shelters. According to Gaza's Ministry of Interior and National Security, five individuals perished overnight when a building housing displaced civilians in Bir an-Naaja collapsed.

This morning, two additional fatalities occurred in Gaza City’s Remal district when a wall fell onto tents. The day prior, another person lost their life at the Shati refugee camp, while a newborn in al-Mawasi succumbed to the severe cold. Local hospitals have reported a surge in deaths related to cold exposure. At al-Shifa Hospital, a nine-year-old named Hadeel al-Masri died in a shelter, and another infant, Taim al-Khawaja, perished in Shati camp. In Khan Younis, eight-month-old Rahaf Abu Jazar also died after heavy rains flooded her family’s tent.

Family members explained that the baby’s family had been residing in a damaged house after their home was destroyed during an Israeli airstrike. Rescue teams and heavy machinery are actively working through rubble in Beit Lahiya in search of victims from collapsed buildings.

Al Jazeera reported that the storm has altered temporary shelters into dangerous traps. Authorities note that continued floods, rains, and hail threaten approximately 850,000 residents, including numerous children living in 761 shelters. The destruction of tents has left families without safe refuge. Significant parts of the coastline have eroded, putting tents near the sea at even greater risk.

Most Palestinians in Gaza have lost their homes, with at least 10 houses collapsing in the last 24 hours. Many remain in these compromised structures due to a lack of tents or alternative accommodations, as Israel continues to obstruct winter assistance. Civil defense teams have received over 4,300 emergency calls and reported at least 12 additional building collapses of homes that had already sustained damage from Israeli strikes.

Rescue operations are ongoing, although teams face restrictions due to limited fuel and equipment. The Ministry of Interior has appealed for international assistance to compel Israel to permit aid and shelter supplies into Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem characterized the storm-related deaths as part of a “war of extermination,” underscoring the difficult living conditions exacerbated by past bombardments. He called for immediate global intervention to provide adequate shelter and protection against the harsh weather.

#Global News