Gaza Floods and Hospital Strike Test Ceasefire as Winter Sets In
An Israeli strike on Nasser hospital killed six people as storms and cold hit Gaza's shelters. The UN says 940,000 people live in flood-risk areas, while Israel says reconstruction cannot start until Hamas disarms. Gaza's misery deepens ahead of a bleak winter.
An Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in Gaza killed six people and wounded 28 on Thursday morning, as winter storms battered the territory's shelters and put Gaza's misery back in focus. It was the first strike on a healthcare facility since the ceasefire was declared, and one of the few remaining functioning hospitals was hit.
The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas commander and other fighters at the hospital. It provided no evidence.
Palestinians have continued to die since the truce began. About four a day have been killed on average since the ceasefire was declared, according to the figures cited in the report.
Storms and shortages
Storms and cold killed at least four children and a woman last weekend. The UN says 940,000 people are living in makeshift shelters in areas at risk of flooding. Sewage is seeping into tents.
More than four-fifths of Gaza's buildings have been destroyed. Some families, desperate, have returned to ruined homes, and some have died in building collapses.
The UN says Israel is blocking 150,000 tents that are ready for use. It names other goods held back, including sanitation equipment and nutrient-dense peanut butter.
Israel says it has allowed trucks and tents in. It says reconstruction cannot begin until Hamas "fully disarms".
The Board of Peace, a body backed by US President Donald Trump, has urged Israel to allow in all humanitarian supplies. It said Israel's response so far is insufficient.
Funding gap and political uncertainty
Aid agencies also face a funding squeeze. The World Food Programme said last month that it has cut the number of people it can help by half a million because funding has slumped.
In Israel, Gadi Eisenkot, a former head of the military, has six weeks to form a government. Benjamin Netanyahu lost his mandate after elections last month.
Substantial improvement for Gaza is unlikely even if Eisenkot succeeds, according to the analysis. Civilians' fate in Gaza featured more in the US midterm elections than in the Israeli vote.
Polling cited in the analysis suggests about three in 10 Americans now believe Israel has committed genocide. Israel is dependent on the US and Europe for security, trade and diplomatic support, giving those governments leverage to press for change.
