Gaza mudslide kills four children and a woman in Deir el-Balah

A mudslide in central Gaza killed four children and a woman after heavy rain collapsed a sandbank onto their tent, prompting Palestinian authorities to condemn global inaction. The incident occurred in Deir el-Balah on Sunday during the first winter storm of the year. The landslide followed flooding that inundated displacement camps and weakened buildings damaged by Israeli air raids. Israeli restrictions limited rescue equipment, forcing residents to dig with bare hands. About 70,000 tents were flooded, with over half a million children in critical shelter conditions. The Gaza Government Media Office blamed Israel, the US, and the international community for blocking shelter supplies and caravans. Save the Children noted Israeli authorities repeatedly blocked durable shelter entry despite a ceasefire. Over 74,600 people have died since the war began in October 2023.