Hamas blames Israel for $3 million flood damage in Gaza
Security officials counter that winter preparations were underway, citing 91,000 tents and 9,000 truckloads of supplies delivered ahead of the storm.
By Julia Wang ·
Heavy rains that battered the Gaza Strip since Friday night flooded approximately 70,000 tents within 12 hours, causing an estimated $3 million in direct damage. Hamas accused Israel of responsibility for the destruction on Saturday, posting images of soaked shelters and displaced families on social media to highlight the harsh conditions.
Israeli security officials rejected the accusation on Sunday, stating that preparations for winter weather had been in motion for some time. They noted that the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, known as COGAT, along with the Gaza Board of Peace and the United Nations, had moved supplies into the enclave before the storm arrived.
The officials said the delivered equipment included 91,000 new tents, waterproof tarps, and 9,000 truckloads of clothing and blankets. COGAT called on aid organizations and donor countries to continue supplying goods to support humanitarian efforts in the territory.
Despite these deliveries, security officials maintained that equipment for rebuilding permanent structures and mobile homes would not be allowed to enter. This restriction remains in place as long as Hamas refuses to disarm and the Strip is not demilitarized. A security official argued that Hamas is using the aid to rebuild its military wing while exploiting the civilian environment.
"Even now, Hamas is exploiting the aid entering the Gaza Strip to rebuild its military wing. It is not stopping its rearmament," the official said. "We knew in advance that this would be the situation in winter, and therefore COGAT prepared for it."
Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defense reported receiving 2,166 distress calls since the storm began but responded to only 218 of them. Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said water reached 1.5 meters in some locations, forcing teams to limit their operations due to shortages of equipment and rescue tools.
Families in areas including Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, Jabalya, and Beit Lahiya used buckets to bail water from their shelters. Officials said they are now waiting to see what new government will form in Gaza and whether it will insist on Hamas disarming before allowing further reconstruction.
