Buildings damaged in Israeli bombings risk collapse as rain inundates Gaza

What the report says

Heavy rain and flooding have hit Gaza, worsening the plight of families already displaced by the war and raising concern about the stability of buildings damaged in Israeli strikes. In a report published Nov. 7, 2026, Al Jazeera described flooded tents, damaged shelters and unsafe apartment blocks across the enclave, including al-Mina camp in northern Gaza and Nuseirat in central Gaza.

The article highlighted the experience of Rana Adnan Hmeida, 29, whose family’s tent was inundated overnight as rain and strong winds swept through the camp. Another resident, Raed Abu Amsha, said his tent collapsed during the storm while he cared for nine children. In Nuseirat, Nasser al-Hajj said water enters his apartment through a hole left by an Israeli strike in September 2025, and an engineer has warned that the building could be dangerous if bad weather continues.

Al Jazeera cited United Nations humanitarian data saying about 950,000 displaced people are living in flood-prone areas, with more than 400,000 in zones considered at high risk. The report also said roughly 44,000 people are in structurally unsafe buildings, and more than 4,000 buildings may need full or partial demolition because of war damage. Shelter supplies were described as far short of need, covering only a fraction of what is required.

The piece also said Gaza’s drainage and sewage systems have been badly damaged, limiting the local authorities’ ability to respond. As a broader context, the report shows how winter weather is compounding an already severe housing and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.