Brutal winter storms in Gaza put 850,000 people at imminent flood risk
Shabir Moosa
The Genocide in Gaza
Casualty counts in the last 24 hours: Over the past 24 hours, the bodies of three Palestinians, including one recovered from the rubble, arrived at hospitals, while five Palestinians have been injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 is now 70,369 killed, with 171,069 injured.
Total casualty counts since ceasefire: Since October 11, the first full day of the ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 379 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 992, while 627 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble, according to the Ministry of Health.
Child malnutrition remains at crisis levels, UNICEF says: Despite a ceasefire announced two months ago, child malnutrition in Gaza remains at crisis levels. UNICEF reported that 9,300 children were hospitalized for severe acute malnutrition in October, alongside 8,300 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women. UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram warns that the effects will last for years, and a surge in low-birth-weight babies is expected in the coming months.
Winter storms to hit Gaza as early as today: Three days of winter storms are expected to hit Gaza today with flash floods, high winds, and hail, according to the Palestinian Meteorological Department. The mayor of Gaza City told Al Jazeera that several roads have already been cut off and tent shelters flooded, with some completely submerged. Wind speeds of 31 miles per hour accompanied by a drop in temperature and intense rain is expected. According to the UN, more than 760 displacement sites, housing 850,000 people, face imminent flood risk. The group Save the Children has called on Israel to allow tents, winter clothes, and blankets to enter Gaza to help protect families from the storm. Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 14 host Shimon Riklin sparked outrage after celebrating the storm on air: The weather forecaster said the storm would “drown Gaza,” and Riklin replied that he was “happy” to hear it.
Only a third of Gaza’s children are enrolled in school: UN agencies say 390 temporary classrooms are serving nearly 221,000 students in Gaza this year—about 567 children per learning space. Only a little over one-third of Gaza’s school-aged population is enrolled for the 2025–2026 school year, highlighting the severe loss of educational access in the enclave after two years of U.S.–Israeli destruction. ….more
