Peace Council urges Israel to allow winter aid into Gaza after floods

The Peace Council has called on the Israeli government to immediately allow the entry of all humanitarian supplies and winter relief items into the Gaza Strip, warning that seasonal floods over the past two days have submerged tens of thousands of tents and temporary shelters, creating an "immediate humanitarian emergency" and leaving thousands of displaced people exposed to cold and unsafe conditions.

In a statement, the council said that bringing in shelter materials, sanitation supplies, water drainage equipment, and waste management resources is now essential to protect civilians and preserve the humanitarian gains made over the past year in food security and nutrition.

The council urged the Israeli government to fulfill its obligations under the "Sharm El-Sheikh Humanitarian Protocol" and the comprehensive peace plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump, noting that the measures currently under consideration by Israel, including those by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), "remain insufficient."

It added that delays in approving aid entry and implementing the agreements reached at Sharm El-Sheikh have worsened the humanitarian crisis and significantly delayed the start of disarmament and the transfer of authority from Hamas to the National Committee for Gaza Administration.

The Peace Council also called on Hamas leadership to fulfill its commitments without delay, cease military activities in civilian areas and near Israeli sites, warning that such actions endanger civilians and undermine humanitarian progress. The council further urged Hamas to disarm and fully facilitate the transfer of authority to the National Committee for Gaza Administration.

The council appealed to the United Nations, its agencies, and international donors to urgently coordinate the provision of supplies, resources, and operational support needed to address winter needs and accelerate recovery in the Strip. It stressed that "the time for unfulfilled promises is over," calling on all parties to turn commitments into immediate action and holding those who fail to meet their obligations responsible for the humanitarian consequences.