Palestinian Factions and Church Committee Demand Aid for Gaza Displaced
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Palestinian factions and the Presidential Committee for Church Affairs have called for urgent international intervention to increase aid to Gaza. They demand Israel allow 600 aid trucks daily to address the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by heavy rains and the ongoing conflict. The factions blame Israel for the worsening situation, while the church committee appeals to global churches for support, noting damage to religious sites. Civil defense reported thousands of distress calls and widespread flooding, with significant infrastructure damage and an estimated $3 million in initial losses.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Palestinian factions and the Church Committee demand 600 aid trucks daily for Gaza due to severe weather.
- Hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans are in flooded tents, facing extreme cold and lack of shelter.
- Palestinian Civil Defense received over 2,100 distress calls, responding to only 218 due to equipment shortages.
- Initial storm damage is estimated at $3 million, with 70,000 tents flooded and buildings at risk of collapse.
- The Church Committee called on global churches for urgent aid and highlighted damage to religious sites, including St. Porphyrios Church.
Palestinian factions issued a joint statement on Saturday demanding pressure on Israel to allow 600 aid trucks daily into the Gaza Strip to address the impact of a severe weather system. The Presidential Committee for Church Affairs also called on global churches for urgent action to aid Gaza and its churches amidst worsening conditions exacerbated by heavy rains.
The statement, released by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front for the General Command, the National Initiative Movement, the Resistance Committees, and the Democratic Reformist Current within Fatah, highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. They blamed the "Zionist occupation" for the escalating crisis, stating that over two million Palestinians are suffering from the effects of war, destruction, and blockade. The factions noted that the winter weather has left hundreds of thousands of displaced people in flooded tents without shelter, with families losing their remaining belongings and vulnerable populations exposed to the cold and rain.
The factions urged the "Peace Council" to take serious measures to compel Israel to cease its violations and fulfill its obligations. They also called on mediators and guarantors to play a more effective role in ensuring the full implementation of a humanitarian protocol, including the entry of at least 600 trucks daily carrying humanitarian aid, shelter supplies, heating materials, mobile homes, civil defense equipment, and infrastructure repair materials. They criticized Israel for allowing only limited truck entries, often with expensive or non-essential commercial goods, while restricting essential humanitarian aid.
The Palestinian factions also appealed to the international community to enforce the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice and adhere to commitments under the ceasefire and UN Security Council Resolution 2803. They warned that continued inaction would lead to further violations and escalating risks to civilian lives.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, reported that his agency received 2,166 distress calls since the rain began Friday evening, but could only respond to 218 due to a lack of equipment caused by the blockade. He stated that dozens of camps and residential areas are flooded, with water levels reaching 1.5 meters in some places. Basal also warned that over 2,000 buildings are at risk of collapse without necessary equipment.
Medical sources reported four Palestinians injured due to the collapse of walls in two buildings damaged by previous Israeli shelling. The Gaza government media office announced that 70,000 tents housing displaced people were flooded within 12 hours, along with the collapse of dozens of walls. Initial direct losses from the storm were estimated at $3 million.
The Presidential Committee for Church Affairs echoed these concerns, urging global churches to provide immediate support. They highlighted that hundreds of thousands of displaced people lack safe shelter and basic necessities, with approximately 950,000 displaced individuals in flood-prone areas. The committee noted that churches, including St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City, have also suffered damage from the rains, reflecting the broader destruction impacting homes, institutions, and historical sites. They stressed that protecting the Christian presence in the Holy Land is inseparable from protecting the Palestinian people's right to life, freedom, and dignity.