A severe winter storm in Gaza has destroyed or damaged thousands of tents housing Palestinians displaced by two years of conflict with Israel, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense Department. The department warned that the damage has deepened the humanitarian crisis, as strong winds reaching 60 kilometers per hour and heavy rain tore through coastal areas, leaving many families exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said the storm’s impact extends beyond weather-related hardship, describing it as a direct result of restrictions on construction materials that have hindered reconstruction. He noted that many displaced families are forced to live in torn tents or unsafe, damaged homes without dignity or protection.

Palestinian meteorologists reported that the storm began on Friday and is expected to continue for several more days. Basal cautioned that large urban areas remain uninhabitable after prolonged Israeli bombardment, forcing many families to set up tents along the coast due to the lack of safer alternatives.