Four killed as landslide hits displaced Palestinians’ tents

At least four Palestinians, including three children, were killed after a landslide struck tents sheltering displaced families in central Gaza amid heavy rainfall, adding to the growing humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged territory.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the incident occurred late Sunday night at a camp housing displaced families in central Gaza. The victims included two children and a woman, while five other people were rescued with injuries after being trapped beneath the rubble.

Videos circulating on social media showed local residents and rescue workers searching through rocks, sand and collapsed tents for survivors. They used mobile phone flashlights to look for people buried beneath the debris in the darkness.

Gaza’s Civil Defence Department described the incident as a humanitarian tragedy and called on international organisations to take immediate action to protect displaced families.

It urged humanitarian agencies to provide safer shelters and relocate tents away from sandy areas, slopes and locations vulnerable to landslides and soil erosion.

The latest tragedy comes after heavy storms and torrential rainfall swept across Gaza on Saturday, flooding thousands of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians.

According to the Civil Defence Department, floodwater reached depths of nearly five feet in some areas, leaving families struggling to protect themselves and their belongings from the rising water.

Rescue teams received around 2,100 emergency calls following the severe weather. However, they were able to respond to only 10 per cent of the requests because of limited resources and overwhelming demands.

The department warned that protecting displaced people from the impact of severe weather was an urgent humanitarian responsibility. It stressed that temporary shelters should not become death traps because of sand collapses and rainwater.

The latest disaster has further exposed the vulnerability of Palestinians who have been forced to live in makeshift shelters after losing their homes during Israel’s military offensive.

According to United Nations figures, nearly 80 per cent of buildings across Gaza have been destroyed or damaged. More than 1.9 million people have been displaced, with many forced to move repeatedly in search of safety.

Around 1.2 million Palestinians are currently living in tents or temporary shelters, leaving large numbers of families exposed to harsh weather conditions and a severe shortage of basic necessities.

The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical despite the ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025.

Israeli airstrikes and other military operations have continued to affect densely populated areas, causing further casualties, destruction and displacement.

With winter conditions worsening and thousands of families living in inadequate shelters, humanitarian organisations face growing pressure to provide emergency assistance, safe accommodation and essential supplies to the displaced population.