The sand embankment collapsed on Sunday night at a camp for displaced families south of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, killing three children and one woman, the Hamas-run health ministry said.
Three children—Mariam Nabhan, her brother Salah, and Habiba al-Zein—and Tahrir Nabhan were identified as among those killed. The initial report by Civil Defence stated two women had died; however, the health ministry corrected this to only one woman fatality later that day.
Rescue Operations Amid Limited Resources
Mustafa al-Masri, a rescuer from Beit Hanoun who remained in central Gaza due to lack of safe return options, told BBC News he and others used bare hands to dig through sand and rubble to extract victims and survivors.
"It was extremely difficult," Masri said. "This mound was huge and wide. It collapsed onto the tent, and we didn't know what to do." He described how their father arrived shouting, 'My children, my children,' before they pulled him out with his children and transported them to hospital.
Limited Machinery Hinders Response
The rescue operation faced significant challenges due to a shortage of heavy machinery. The International Organization for Migration's regional crisis coordinator, Karl Baker, told BBC News that Gaza’s 2.1 million population is confined to only about 30% of its total area, many living in high-risk zones such as slopes and sandy areas prone to collapse.
Baker emphasized that current aid levels are insufficient, calling it "the very smallest of Band-Aids." He urged more in-kind donations and funding to support local communities' ability to improve their own conditions.
Humanitarian Challenges Amid Ongoing Conflict
The UN has reported that approximately 80% of all structures in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged since the conflict began on 7 October 2023. Over 1.9 million people have been displaced, with about 1.2 million currently living in tents or makeshift shelters.
Despite a ceasefire agreed in October 2025, Israeli air strikes continue targeting populated areas, leading to ongoing casualties and displacement. The Gaza health ministry reports over 74,640 deaths since the start of hostilities—figures considered reliable by the United Nations.
Aid Delivery Constraints
Cogat, Israel’s military body responsible for coordinating deliveries, stated that more than 91,000 tents, 12 vacuum trucks for waste removal, and fuel and engine oil for pumping facilities have been delivered under the 'Gaza Winterization Plan' as of Sunday.
However, Cogat added it would not permit entry of equipment capable of being used for military purposes by Hamas or other Palestinian armed groups.
The Civil Defence service warned that displaced people's tents must no longer be considered safe spaces. It called on international organizations to take urgent action to provide secure shelters and relocate camps away from sandy slopes and flood-prone areas.