He added that these tents can no longer provide the minimum protection against the winds, rains, and cold of winter, exposing children, women, and the sick to great risks.
Thabete warned that winter will be 'catastrophic' if the housing crisis continues without urgent intervention, calling on the international community, UN organizations, and humanitarian institutions to intervene to bring in new tents and winter relief materials.
This comes amid the ongoing repercussions of the Israeli genocide war on Gaza, which has left widespread destruction in the Strip and a severe housing crisis.
The first autumn rains in the Gaza Strip have renewed the fears of the displaced people of repeating the scenario of the tents flooding, after revealing their fragility amid widespread destruction that affected homes, facilities, and infrastructure during the ongoing Israeli genocide war since October 8, 2023.
On August 13, 2023, the Ministry of Social Development said in a statement that more than 90% of Palestinians in the Strip are living in dilapidated tents, shelters, or among the rubble of homes destroyed by Israel since October 2023.
On January 20, 2026, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that repeated winter storms and flooding caused by rainwater have destroyed and damaged thousands of tents and temporary shelters, forcing families and children to endure cold, wet, and unsafe living conditions.
Since the start of the genocide war on October 8, 2023, the Israeli army has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000, according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip.
In addition to human losses, the war has caused widespread destruction affecting 90% of homes, infrastructure, and basic services.
