Israeli military attacks across the Gaza Strip killed at least five Palestinians on Wednesday. The violence unfolded as the United Nations launched an emergency appeal for waterproof shelters to protect hundreds of thousands of displaced people facing severe flooding.
An air attack in the al-Sabra neighbourhood south of Gaza City killed 38-year-old Mohammed Salem al-Daash. Another civilian was shot dead by Israeli forces east of the al-Bureij camp in central Gaza. A separate drone strike in the al-Nasr neighbourhood northwest of Gaza City killed one more person.
Two Palestinians died when a strike hit a tent sheltering displaced families in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood north of Gaza City. Local reporting identified two brothers from the al-Absi family among those killed while sheltering inside their tent on al-Jalaa Street.
UN agencies warned that heavy weekend rains flooded at least 70,000 tents across the enclave. UNICEF reported that the downpours directly affected at least 106,000 people, submerging thousands of makeshift shelters and causing latrines to overflow into camps.
Local organisations and non-governmental groups lack the capacity to handle the emergency due to ongoing Israeli restrictions on essential aid. UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters that Israeli permits are required alongside funding to bring supplies through.
Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, stated that certain countries supporting aid deliveries claimed progress would be difficult until an Israeli government is formed. Fletcher rejected that reasoning, citing international law and the severe consequences of delays and blockages.
Italy announced a new emergency initiative worth five million euros, equivalent to 5.5 million US dollars, to provide immediate assistance following the floods. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the funding on Wednesday.
Medical sources told the Palestinian Wafa news agency that the cumulative death toll since October 7, 2023, has reached 74,653 civilians, with another 176,007 people injured. Officials added that 1,622 Palestinians have been killed and 5,878 injured since a ceasefire agreement took effect on October 11, 2025.
