A sand bank collapse south of Deir al-Balah on Sunday resulted in five fatalities and damage to multiple displacement camp shelters in Gaza. Eyewitnesses described chaotic rescue operations as residents worked to extract individuals trapped beneath sand and large boulders using improvised tools including hammers, shovels, and flashlights. Among those killed were an eight-year-old, a six-year-old, and their mother, while the children’s father, who was outside the tent at the time, survived the incident.
Local residents detailed the dire conditions in the camps, with one survivor reporting the complete loss of his shelter and all possessions buried under debris. The incident occurred amid broader weather impacts across the territory, with the UN documenting damage to more than 26,000 households from weekend rainstorms. A statement attributed to the Hamas-run government media office reported approximately 70,000 tents were flooded on the first day of rainfall, along with numerous structural collapses resulting in injuries across various areas.
The landslide underscores the vulnerability of Gaza’s displaced population, with approximately 2.3 million residents living in tent camps or buildings damaged during Israel’s military operations. Humanitarian officials noted that overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure in displacement sites created dangerous conditions. Earlier assessments had identified that many tents supplied by international donors offered insufficient protection against adverse weather conditions.
Reconstruction efforts in Gaza remain stalled despite a ceasefire agreed to last year. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reached an impasse over disarmament and troop withdrawal terms. Israeli officials have stated that reconstruction cannot proceed before Hamas is disarmed, while restrictions on certain materials have limited improvements to shelter capacity. Cogat reported that significant quantities of tents, blankets, winter clothing, and supplies have entered the territory, though humanitarian workers indicated that restrictions on items such as metal tent poles continue to constrain response efforts.
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