The Board of Peace has criticized Israel’s response to Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis as insufficient, urging the government to accelerate the delivery of winter supplies as heavy rains flood displacement camps and leave thousands of Palestinian families exposed to harsh weather conditions.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Board said severe flooding over the previous two days had inundated tens of tents and makeshift shelters, damaged essential belongings and further endangered displaced families already living in precarious conditions.
“The Board of Peace is deeply concerned by the severe seasonal flooding across Gaza over the past two days, which has inundated tens of thousands of tents and makeshift shelters, damaged families’ belongings and left displaced people exposed to cold and unsafe conditions.”
Describing the situation as an immediate humanitarian emergency, it called for the urgent entry of shelter materials, sanitation equipment, drainage supplies and other winterization assistance to protect civilians.
“We got flooded, and our tent collapsed.” Bilal, 13.
Rain & cold temperatures in #Gaza are making living conditions even worse for children & families
While @UNICEF is distributing emergency winter supplies, access for all aid to enable recovery work & more funding is vital. https://t.co/IAD8p3tpS5
— UNICEF Palestine (@UNICEFpalestine) November 9, 2026
The humanitarian crisis follows the war that began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel killed around 1,200 people and saw approximately 250 others taken hostage. Israel subsequently launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, widespread displacement and extensive destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and essential infrastructure.
Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble, leaving large sections of the population dependent on humanitarian assistance and sheltering in overcrowded displacement camps or makeshift accommodation. The latest flooding has further compounded conditions for families already struggling to survive amid the consequences of the prolonged conflict.
The Board acknowledged steps being considered by the Israeli government but said the response remained insufficient. It urged Israel to immediately facilitate humanitarian deliveries and honor its commitments under the President’s Comprehensive Peace Plan and the Sharm El-Sheikh Humanitarian Protocol.
The warning comes as Gaza’s displaced population faces another winter amid widespread destruction and inadequate temporary accommodation.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 26,000 households have reported damage to their shelters or belongings following the latest heavy rains. Humanitarian stocks of tents, blankets and clothing inside Gaza are also virtually exhausted, while more than 150,000 tents purchased by humanitarian partners are awaiting dispatch outside the territory.
The UN has stressed the need for additional supplies and equipment, including water pumps, vacuum trucks and heavy machinery, to clear floodwater and restore drainage services.
The Board said it had repeatedly urged Israel to authorize the entry of materials needed for temporary shelter, water and sanitation infrastructure, waste management, drainage and sewage removal. It warned that delays in approvals had compounded the humanitarian emergency and hindered implementation of the wider peace plan.
Israel, meanwhile, says it has been implementing a winter preparedness program in coordination with international organizations and humanitarian partners. The Israeli military and COGAT have reported the entry of tens of thousands of tents and thousands of trucks carrying winter-related supplies into Gaza.
Israeli authorities have also attributed delays in completing approved aid deliveries partly to logistical and financial difficulties faced by humanitarian organizations.
The Board also reiterated its demand that Hamas lay down its arms, relinquish governing authority and facilitate the transfer of power to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). It urged the United Nations, international agencies and donors to mobilize additional resources to address immediate winterization needs.
“The time for assurances without implementation has passed,” the Board said, calling on all parties to translate their commitments into immediate and measurable action.
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 20 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 2010.
