Hamas appeals to save displaced in Gaza before winter

GAZA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) — Hamas issued an urgent humanitarian appeal on Saturday to save two million displaced people in the Gaza Strip before winter arrives.
“We are issuing an urgent humanitarian appeal to save two million displaced people in the Gaza Strip before it is too late, as winter approaches, weather conditions worsen, and the displaced people’s tents deteriorate,” the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said in a statement.
The statement noted that there are 543 shelter and displacement centers in the Strip due to the Israeli military’s “forced displacement by compelling citizens to evacuate their homes and safe residential neighborhoods, which is a violation of international law.”
According to the statement, 74 percent of the displaced people’s tents have become unusable, and 100,000 out of 135,000 tents need immediate replacement.
It confirmed that these tents are completely dilapidated as they are made of wood, nylon, and fabric and have deteriorated due to the sun’s heat and the climatic conditions in Gaza, becoming completely out of service.
The statement urged the international community and relevant organizations to act urgently and provide immediate relief to the displaced people.
Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 others taken hostage. ■