A wave of severe weather has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as heavy rains and strong winds have flooded displacement tents and hospital corridors across the besieged territory.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip reported that dozens of tents sheltering displaced families were inundated by floodwaters, forcing families to evacuate and placing hundreds of thousands at further risk. The makeshift tents, he noted, are ill-equipped to withstand the current weather conditions, raising alarm over a potential new disaster layered atop the ongoing genocide and Israeli blockade.

The flooding also impacted already-struggling medical facilities. In Khan Younis, operating rooms and hospital corridors were overtaken by rainwater, hampering emergency care efforts. Our correspondent further noted a recent spike in injuries caused by leftover Israeli munitions, particularly among children navigating the rubble-strewn terrain.

Hamas appeals for immediate international response

In response to the worsening crisis, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem issued a statement condemning the lack of effective Arab and international action.

“Gaza is once again drowning in tents because of the rain,” Qassem said. “All the world’s efforts have failed to alleviate the catastrophe because of the Israeli blockade, and the Arab and Islamic system has been unable to aid Gaza despite resolutions by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.”

He called on Arab, Muslim, and international communities to act immediately: “Gaza has a right upon you. Do not leave it to face an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, as it was left under the genocide.”

Death toll rises amid resource shortages and destruction

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that hospitals in the Strip received the bodies of 17 martyrs over 24 hours: three newly killed and 14 others retrieved from beneath the rubble, alongside 16 injuries of varying severity.

The Ministry confirmed that more victims remain trapped under collapsed buildings and in the streets, as ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them due to the scale of destruction and critical fuel and equipment shortages.

Since the declared ceasefire on October 11, 2025, the Ministry has recorded 345 martyrs, 889 injuries, and 588 bodies retrieved from the rubble.

The overall death toll from the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, now stands at 69,775 martyrs and 170,965 injuries, with humanitarian organizations warning that the situation is rapidly deteriorating under siege and severe weather conditions.

German study estimates Gaza death toll surpasses 100,000

A new analysis by a leading German demographic institute suggests that the true number of Palestinians killed in "Israel’s" war on the Gaza Strip may be far higher than previously documented.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research now estimate that more than 100,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began more than two years ago, according to reporting by Die Zeit.

Project co-lead Irena Chen said, “We will never know the exact number of dead. We are only trying to estimate as accurately as possible what a realistic order of magnitude might be.” The team found that the number of those killed could fall anywhere between 99,997 and 125,915, with a midpoint calculation of 112,069 deaths over the first two years of fighting, far higher than the previously accepted toll.

The researchers drew data from multiple sources, including Gaza’s Ministry of Health, independent household surveys, and recorded death reports circulating on social media. Until now, the Health Ministry’s figure of 67,173 deaths had been the only official tally.

Significant undercounting

Although Die Zeit reports no evidence of data distortion, the new analysis indicates significant undercounting, with many deaths going unrecorded amid the collapse of Gaza’s health infrastructure.

The Health Ministry traditionally reports only confirmed deaths, typically issued through hospital documentation. However, with many medical facilities shut down or destroyed, officials have increasingly relied on family-submitted death notifications, which are reviewed by a specialized panel.

Victims buried beneath collapsed buildings frequently remain missing and uncounted.

The Max Planck study also examined deaths across age and gender. The researchers estimate children under 15 account for roughly 27% of all casualties, while women make up around 24%.

The analysis further shows a dramatic drop in life expectancy. Prior to the war, women in Gaza could expect to live to 77 years, and men to 74. If current conditions persist, projections for 2024 fall to 46 for women and just 36 for men, a staggering demographic collapse.

UNRWA warns of dire conditions in Gaza 

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has highlighted the growing humanitarian toll on children in Gaza, warning that access to safe water, education, and psychological support remains critically limited as the war continues.

In a social media post on X,  UNRWA said children across the territory “continue to seek support amid immense challenges,” with many suffering trauma and disruption to daily life. According to the agency, counsellors and social workers have provided more than 330,000 psychosocial support sessions since the outbreak of the war.

At the same time, UNRWA warned that access to safe drinking water remains one of the most urgent concerns in Gaza. Many families, including children, are walking long distances each day to collect only small amounts of water for survival.

Despite significant operational challenges, the agency continues to run water wells and deliver emergency supplies, currently providing around one-third of all water distributed to Gaza City and northern Gaza, UNRWA said.

Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that Gaza’s water, health, and sanitation systems are nearing collapse, leaving millions of residents,  particularly children, at growing risk of disease, malnutrition, and long-term psychological harm.