Gaza:Hamas has accused Israel of attempting to evade responsibility for Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis, particularly in the context of the winter shelter situation. The accusations come amid claims from Israel about coordinating with international organizations to address winter needs while continuing to restrict essential shelter and reconstruction supplies.
According to Palestine Info Center, Hamas's statement highlighted that Israel’s claims of responding to Gaza’s humanitarian needs were contradicted by the widespread flooding in displacement camps. In these camps, tens of thousands of tents have been submerged, leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in increasingly dangerous living conditions.
Hamas criticized the Israeli military’s contacts with international organizations as an attempt to deflect responsibility for the crisis, which it attributes to the ongoing blockade by Israel, restrictions on humanitarian supplies, and extensive destruction of homes and infrastructure. The flooding of tents following the first major winter storm was used by Hamas as evidence of the severity of Gaza’s shelter emergency and the gap between Israel's statements and the actual conditions faced by displaced Palestinian families.
The Movement further accused Israel of obstructing the entry of essential supplies such as tents, prefabricated housing units, and repair materials needed to address the destruction. It also rejected any attempts to link reconstruction or entry of humanitarian supplies to political or security conditions, stressing that access to basic necessities is a fundamental humanitarian right.
Hamas called on mediators, guarantor countries, and the Board of Peace to ensure the implementation of agreements reached, particularly the ceasefire's humanitarian protocol. It urged the removal of restrictions on the entry of shelter supplies and demanded that the Palestinian national committee be allowed to enter Gaza to fulfill its responsibilities.
The statement from Hamas comes as severe weather has exacerbated the vulnerability of families in deteriorating tents and overcrowded displacement centers. Gaza's Civil Defense reported that approximately 70,000 tents were flooded during a recent storm, forcing hundreds of families to find shelter in already inadequate conditions. The storm has aggravated an already dire housing emergency caused by previous military offensives and the blockade. As winter approaches, there are growing concerns about further flooding and displacement during subsequent storms.