Peace Council Criticizes Israel Over Gaza Floods, Cites Humanitarian Crisis
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
The Peace Council, led by Donald Trump, criticized Israel's response to Gaza floods, calling it an immediate humanitarian emergency. Heavy rains inundated tens of thousands of tents, displacing families. The council urged Israel to approve aid and materials, while also demanding Hamas disarm and cease military activity. Significant humanitarian progress had been made in Gaza over the past year, but the council warned against unfulfilled promises.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The Peace Council criticized Israel's response to Gaza floods as insufficient, declaring an immediate humanitarian emergency.
- Tens of thousands of tents housing displaced families in Gaza were flooded by recent heavy rains.
- The council urged Israel to approve the entry of winter aid and shelter materials.
- Hamas was also demanded to cease military activity, disarm, and transfer governing authority.
- The council noted significant humanitarian progress in Gaza over the past year.
- Tony Blair, a key figure in the council, recently visited Israel to discuss Gaza's future.
The Peace Council, headed by U.S. President Donald Trump, issued a statement on Monday criticizing the Israeli government's response to recent floods in the Gaza Strip, deeming it "insufficient." The council reported that seasonal floods over the past two days inundated tens of thousands of tents and makeshift shelters, leaving displaced families exposed to the cold. The statement declared the situation "no longer just a threat of the approaching winter, but an immediate humanitarian emergency."
The council stated that warnings had been issued for months, urging the Israeli government to approve the entry of materials for temporary shelter, water and sanitation infrastructure, waste removal, and sewage disposal. They also noted Israel was required to uphold its commitments under the Sharm El Sheikh Humanitarian Protocol. While acknowledging steps currently being considered by the Israeli government and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the council reiterated that the response remained inadequate. It called on "the current leadership of the Israeli government" to immediately approve the entry of all winter equipment and humanitarian aid.
The council's statement also directed sharp demands at Hamas, citing recent military activity in civilian areas near Israeli positions as endangering civilians and hindering humanitarian progress. The council demanded Hamas cease this activity, disarm, and transfer all governing authorities to the governing committee. "Let it be clear, nothing absolves Hamas of responsibility for launching the October 7, 2023 attacks, without any regard for the consequences on the population," the statement read.
According to the council, significant humanitarian progress had been made in Gaza over the past year, with food access reaching the entire population and nutritional status improving dramatically. They urged the UN and international donors to urgently mobilize necessary resources for the winter, stating, "The time for promises without implementation has passed. Those who do not meet their commitments will bear responsibility for the consequences."
Reuters reported that heavy rains over the weekend flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced people. The Hamas-run Ministry of Information in Gaza claimed at least 70,000 tents were flooded within 12 hours, reporting injuries but no fatalities. Gaza's Civil Defense received 1,500 distress calls from displaced individuals, and three abandoned homes collapsed without casualties. Similar flooding of displaced persons' tents occurred last winter during Storm Byron, which also caused the collapse of five structures. Tony Blair, described as a key figure in the Peace Council, visited Israel recently to discuss initiatives regarding Gaza's future.
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