Gaza War Death Toll Rises to 74,643 as Heavy Rains and Collapsing Sand Barriers Worsen Displacement Crisis

Gaza War Death Toll Rises to 74,643 as Heavy Rains and Collapsing Sand Barriers Worsen Displacement Crisis
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The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Monday, November 9, 2026, that the death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza had risen to 74,643, with 175,962 people injured, as severe weather conditions and heavy rainfall further aggravated the humanitarian crisis facing displaced Palestinians. Torrential rains have flooded displacement tents and caused protective sand barriers to collapse, leaving thousands of families exposed to additional dangers.

According to Palestinian sources, hospitals across the Gaza Strip received three fatalities and 15 injured people over the past hours. Since the ceasefire, the death toll has reached 1,613, with 5,833 injuries reported, while the bodies of 849 victims have been recovered. The Ministry of Health also warned that additional victims remain trapped beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings, as rescue and civil defence teams struggle to reach them due to widespread destruction and shortages of essential equipment.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in displacement camps continues to deteriorate, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in tents and shelters that lack adequate protection against harsh winter conditions. In a particularly tragic incident in Deir al-Balah, three children and two women reportedly died after a sand barrier collapsed onto tents sheltering displaced families following heavy rainfall.

Gaza’s Government Media Office and the Higher Winter Emergency Committee held Israeli forces responsible for the worsening humanitarian conditions, citing restrictions on access to displacement areas and the prevention of essential shelter materials, construction supplies, and heavy machinery from entering the territory. They also warned that shrinking areas available for displaced families and the movement of what they described as the “Yellow Line” have intensified overcrowding and made it more difficult to provide safe shelter.

The Government Media Office has appealed to the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and international humanitarian and human rights organizations to intervene urgently, ensure civilian protection, and facilitate the entry of relief supplies, shelter materials, and heavy equipment needed to address the damage caused by flooding. It also called for facilitating municipal operations in Deir al-Balah, particularly the provision of sand to reinforce displacement sites and protect remaining tents from further flooding.