Gaza death toll surpasses 74,000 as storm floods thousands of shelters

At least six Palestinians were killed in Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to local health sources. The deaths include a father and his 13-year-old son, who were killed in separate attacks within the territory.

The violence has continued since the United States brokered a truce agreement last year. The Gaza Ministry of Health reports that more than 1,600 Palestinians have died since that ceasefire was established. The ministry states that the total death toll for the war, which began in October 2023, has now exceeded 74,000.

Three members of the Ghubain family were killed in an air attack on their home in the Daraj area of Gaza City. In another incident, a father and his son died when an airstrike hit a tent in the Zeitoun neighborhood. A man was also shot and killed by Israeli gunfire in the southern city of Khan Younis.

The strikes coincide with the first strong storm of the season, which hit the region over the weekend. The Gaza Government Media Office reported that approximately 70,000 tents were flooded within 12 hours. The weather event killed at least five people and caused an estimated $3 million in damage.

Israeli authorities are blocking the entry of 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents into the enclave. Only 20,000 tents are currently being allowed through, a number that falls short of the demand from the displaced population. The restrictions also limit the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Diplomatic negotiations have stalled over specific terms for Hamas to disarm and a plan for Israeli troop withdrawal. Israeli forces currently control approximately two-thirds of the Gaza territory. Residents in these areas have been ordered to leave, adding to the displacement crisis as military operations and heavy rainfall continue to strain local resources.