Edward Marchesi With the arrival of the seasonal rains, the Gaza Strip finds itself in a state of emergency that far exceeds its usual difficulties. Israeli restrictions on the entry of construction materials, considered "dual-use," have transformed what should have been a cold winter into a humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people.
Sixty-five percent of the population (approximately 1,4 million inhabitants) lives in makeshift shelters, flooded tents or partially collapsed structures, exposed to the harshest weather conditions in recent years.
Humanitarian coordination authorities reported that, despite the availability of 150,000 tents ready to cross the border, most of them remain in warehouses due to the lack of crossing permits.
This logistical blockade translates into a lack of heating and protection for families, accelerating the deterioration of living conditions and creating scenarios of great vulnerability, especially for the youngest.
Death of Ehab Mohammad Hamad and the plight of Masa Yassin
Among the most heartbreaking stories are those of two children: Ehab Mohammad Hamad, a six-month-old baby, and six-year-old Masa Yassin.
Ehab was found lifeless by his mother, with his lips, fingers, and feet blue, a victim of hypothermia after water invaded the tent where his family was living. His grandmother, in a video released by the Sameer Project , said: "Despite all our efforts to keep the baby warm and wrap him in blankets, it was all in vain."
The Case of Masa Yassin
Masa Yassin 's case is emblematic of the challenges associated with medical care. The girl, a victim of severe burns, relies on a special breathing mask, but restrictions on medical supplies prevent her from replacing it when the device becomes too small. Without a new device, her recovery journey risks being interrupted, highlighting how limited access to care amplifies the suffering of the most vulnerable.
Aid slowdown: data on tents, trucks, and restrictions
The Palestine Shelter Cluster noted a drastic drop in the transit of vehicles loaded with shelter materials: from 908 registered in December 2025, the number dropped to 409 in January 2026. Furthermore, only 9% of humanitarian convoys entering the Strip carried shelter materials, due to the closure of the Rafah crossing and the limited operation of Kerem Shalom , the only remaining access point. UNRWA Director in Gaza, Sean Jones, emphasized that "there are tens of thousands of tents, winter coats, blankets, pallets, and trucks full of these things simply sitting in warehouses because they haven't received the normal authorizations from the Israelis to bring them in."
Israel's ban on the transit of dual-use goods has also impacted NGOs' ability to operate: in December 2025, 37 international organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam , were banned from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. UNRWA was also banned, forcing its housing assistance operations to rely on bilateral channels run by governments such as Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Consequences on the population: prices, quality of tents and forced displacement
The shortage of supplies has caused prices to skyrocket: the average cost of a tent has increased by 52% to $655, while emergency shelter kits have increased by 1,233% to $4,000. The tents available are often low-quality, lack waterproofing, and prone to theft: according to Hala Sabbah of the Sameer Project, "many of the tents arriving are stolen and sold on the market." Furthermore, 54% of refugees have been using the same shelter for more than a year, with materials that last only a few months in Gaza's harsh weather conditions.
An analysis by Forensic Architecture showed that the systematic destruction of buildings has forced the population to move to the coastal strip, where areas are subject to recurring flooding. "The tent camps now being flooded are not a coincidence of this phenomenon," said Nicola Banks of Forensic Architecture, highlighting the link between the forced displacement strategy and the ongoing genocide. A spokesperson for the Sameer Project concluded: "There was a slow genocide throughout 2026, but in the last three or four months we're seeing an acceleration, and I think this is part of their strategy."