91,000 tents reach Gaza as Board of Peace calls Israeli response insufficient

Trump’s Board of Peace issued a formal criticism of Israel on Monday, declaring the state’s handling of recent floods in Gaza to be "insufficient."

The body, established under a United Nations Security Council resolution to manage the ceasefire and reconstruction, stated that the rapid entry of shelter and sanitation goods is vital for civilian survival. Seasonal rains had inundated tens of thousands of tents housing nearly two million displaced Palestinians, according to the United Nations. Israel reported that over 91,000 tents had already entered the territory ahead of the winter season, yet the Board of Peace requested authorization for materials related to water infrastructure, waste management, and drainage.

Philippe Lazzarini, the former head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, characterized the board’s assessment as an "understatement." He noted the organization’s "rare recognition" that Israel was failing to adequately address the humanitarian crisis. Lazzarini criticized the board for failing to use its influence to confront what he described as the "disgraceful dystopian misery of the Palestinians in Gaza." The board has generally avoided harsh language toward the Israeli government in previous communications.

The flooding resulted in specific casualties in the central city of Deir al-Balah on Sunday evening. A sand embankment collapsed under the weight of heavy rain, killing three children and one woman, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who recently led a multinational effort to sanction Israeli settlements in the West Bank, warned that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating. He described the scene of flooded tents as "heartbreaking" and stated that the United Kingdom government would not rest until it ends the "intolerable suffering."

The conflict in Gaza has lasted for three years, destroying much of the civilian infrastructure. Although a nominal ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israel has conducted near-daily strikes that have killed more than 1,400 people, according to the United Nations. No hospitals in the enclave are currently fully functioning. Israel’s Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories, COGAT, stated that reconstruction can only begin after Hamas fully disarms. COGAT indicated that Israel will not permit the entry of heavy equipment that could potentially be used to develop terrorist capabilities, despite the need for large-scale rubble removal.