Four children among 5 killed as sand dune buries Gaza tents

Gaza Strip: At least five Palestinians, including four children and a woman, were killed after a sand embankment collapsed onto tents sheltering displaced families in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Sunday, November 8, Palestinian media reported.

The deaths come as Palestinians face a fourth consecutive winter without adequate shelter, with heavy rainfall and strong winds worsening conditions for thousands of displaced families living in makeshift camps across the Gaza.

Gaza’s Civil Defence teams recovered five bodies from beneath the sand and rubble, while rescue operations continued at the site. Five other people were pulled out alive with injuries, according to local reports.

Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal said a sand and rockslide struck tents at a displacement camp south of Deir al-Balah, trapping people underneath.

Residents rushed to rescue those trapped, using shovels and other basic tools. Footage circulating on social media showed men digging through the sand and attempting to lift a large concrete slab. One resident was seen using his bare hands to reach people buried underneath.

Four children are among five Palestinians killed after a sand dune collapsed onto displacement tents in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, amid heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/V4iZKPOjFg

— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) November 9, 2026

The collapse occurred amid severe weather that began affecting Gaza on Friday night, November 6, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds.

On Saturday, November 7, Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that around 70,000 tents had been flooded within 12 hours of the first low-pressure weather system hitting the territory. Dozens of walls also collapsed, with the resulting damage estimated at USD 3 million.

Munir al-Bursh, Director General of Gaza’s Health Ministry, warned that approximately 350,000 displaced Palestinians were exposed to the elements. He raised concerns about the risks posed by falling temperatures, particularly for children, older people and those with medical conditions.

Damaged drainage and sewage networks, along with shortages of fuel and heating supplies, have further increased the risks for families living in temporary shelters.

Despite the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, restrictions on humanitarian assistance, shelter materials and reconstruction supplies have continued to hamper efforts to improve living conditions in the territory.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that at least 74,640 Palestinians had been killed and 175,947 injured since October 7, 2023. Since the ceasefire began, 1,610 Palestinians have been killed and another 5,819 injured, according to figures released on November 8. The ministry also reported that 849 bodies had been recovered from beneath the rubble during the ceasefire period.

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