After heavy rains caused flooding and swept away tents in Gaza on Saturday, Hamas blamed Israel for the situation.
Security officials rejected the criticism on Sunday morning, saying that as part of preparations for winter weather, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Gaza Board of Peace, and the UN had already transported a variety of supplies to the enclave.
Officials stated that 91,000 new tents, waterproof tarps, and 9,000 truckloads of clothing and blankets were among the equipment delivered to offset the flood damage.
COGAT also encouraged aid organizations and countries to continue donating supplies and assisting in humanitarian efforts.
Permanent buildings not to be reconstructed until Hamas disarms, security officials say
Meanwhile, security officials asserted that for as long as Hamas refuses to disarm and the Gaza Strip is not demilitarized, equipment for the reconstruction of buildings in Gaza and mobile homes will not be allowed in.
"Even now, Hamas is exploiting the aid entering the Gaza Strip to rebuild its military wing. It is not stopping its rearmament. It is exploiting the civilian environment and the entry of reconstruction equipment. We knew in advance that this would be the situation in winter, and therefore COGAT prepared for it," a security official added.
The same security official explained that "the situation now is the best it has been since the war began. During previous winters, there was military maneuvering, restrictions on the entry of general equipment, and population displacement. There are difficulties in the Gaza Strip. There is no doubt. But they are not comparable to what existed at the height of the war."
Security officials are waiting to see what new government will be formed in Gaza, what its policy on reconstruction will be, and whether it will insist on Hamas being disarmed.
COGAT prepared for Hamas campaign blaming Israel for flooding
As first reported by Walla, COGAT prepared for a coordinated Hamas campaign amid the winter storm that caused flooding in the Gaza Strip.
On Saturday, heavy rains and winds that had battered the Gaza Strip since Friday night flooded displacement camps, damaged tents, and left families without dry shelter. Hamas said that approximately 70,000 tents were flooded within 12 hours and estimated the initial direct damage at approximately $3 million.
Hamas launched a campaign against Israel, blaming it for the harsh winter conditions, while members of the terrorist organization uploaded photos and videos to social media.
Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defense said it had received 2,166 distress calls since the storm began but had managed to respond to only 218 of them.
The organization's spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, said that displacement camps, shelters, and entire areas had been flooded, with water levels reaching approximately 1.5 meters in some locations. According to him, shortages of equipment and rescue tools forced teams to limit themselves to providing help to many families.
According to Palestinian and Arab media reports, the flooding affected tents in the area of Gaza City's port, western Deir al-Balah, the northern part of the Nuseirat camp, and areas of Jabalya and Beit Lahiya.
Water entered shelters, soaking mattresses, blankets, clothing, and personal belongings. Families attempted to remove the water with buckets or prevent it from reaching their tents by using sand.