Gaza City, Gaza—Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, has issued an urgent humanitarian appeal to aid approximately two million displaced individuals in the Gaza Strip as the winter season approaches. The appeal emphasizes the dire living conditions faced by the displaced populations, particularly in light of the deteriorating weather and inadequate shelter facilities.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office highlighted the critical situation in a recent statement, stressing that the impending winter exacerbates the already harsh conditions for those displaced. The statement pointed out that 543 shelter and displacement centers currently exist in Gaza due to forced evacuations prompted by Israeli military operations, which it claims violate international law.

The condition of the shelters, primarily tents made of wood, nylon, and fabric, has significantly worsened due to continuous exposure to the sun and general climatic wear. This has led to 74 percent of these shelters becoming unusable, with about 100,000 of the 135,000 tents needing immediate replacement. The Gaza government’s statement urgently called on the international community and relevant organizations to provide swift relief and support to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.

This humanitarian crisis follows Israel’s extensive offensive against Hamas in Gaza, initiated in response to a violent incursion by Hamas militants into southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages, marking a significant escalation in the longstanding conflict between Israel and Hamas.