As heavy rains swamp Gaza's tents, Israel must face sanctions

It took a mere dozen hours of the first winter storm to flood around 70,000 tents in Gaza. Even 1,000 would be worthy of major humanitarian action, but just imagine that multiplied by 70. These devastating floods were predicted and predictable. Nothing about this should surprise anyone who has paid even the scantest attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Every year, Palestinians in the coastal enclave face the threat of flooding due to winter rains. Years ago, it was already challenging enough, as raw sewage flooded the streets, fuelling the spread of disease. Israel’s blockade of Gaza, in place for two decades, along with periodic military bombardments, would render these inundations particularly life-threatening. Much of the debate in years past was about the inability to pump water out, including the lack of fuel for pumps, owing to Israel’s blockade. In contrast to the situation in 2026, however, that was a minor crisis. Read more: As heavy rains swamp Gaza's tents, Israel must face sanctions