In a grim turn of events, at least nine Palestinians have lost their lives in relentless Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, as the United Nations makes an urgent appeal for waterproof tents to combat flooding caused by heavy rains. The latest casualties include four individuals killed in an air strike on the Nasser Medical Complex in western Khan Younis early Thursday, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal. Other fatalities were reported in various locations, including the al-Sabra neighborhood, al-Bureij camp, and al-Nasr neighborhood, as well as a tent sheltering displaced people in Sheikh Radwan.
The UN's call for additional tents comes amid reports that at least 70,000 tents have been flooded due to recent rainfall, affecting over 106,000 people and submerging thousands of tents for displaced Palestinians. The crisis has left local organizations and NGOs strained, unable to cope with the urgent needs. UN officials are urging Israeli authorities to cooperate in granting permits for essential aid delivery, citing the worsening humanitarian situation.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to take a heavy toll on civilians. The death toll from the three-year conflict has surged to 74,653 civilian casualties, with an additional 176,007 injured, according to medical sources. Since the Gaza ceasefire agreement in 2025, Israel has killed 1,622 Palestinians and injured 5,878 others.
Italy has launched a new emergency initiative worth €5 million ($5.5m) to provide immediate assistance to the Gaza Strip following the flooding. However, progress in delivering winter supplies is being delayed due to ongoing Israeli elections and the formation of a new government, according to UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs Tom Fletcher. Critics argue that these delays are unacceptable given the severity of the situation and the implications for international law.