Winter storm deepens hardship for Gazans

New Delhi, Dec 12: More than 800,000 people in Gaza are now at heightened risk of flooding, the UN has warned, as a powerful winter storm batters the already devastated territory. Torrential rain has submerged camps, inundated makeshift shelters and caused several damaged buildings to collapse, reports BBC. People are living in tents and makeshift tenements and several of them leak.

Two months into ceasefire, Gaza remains frozen in the first phase of peace plan. Tens of thousands remain displaced, and vast neighbourhoods lie in ruins. The next stage of the peace deal is involving major reconstruction and political arrangements, is stalled as efforts continue to locate Israel’s last remaining hostage, Ran Gvili.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that no further steps in the peace process will begin until Hamas returns all hostages, living or dead.