Gaza Now One of World's Largest Tent Cities After Three Years — SkimNews
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- Israel's war on Gaza has killed or wounded more than 1 in 10 people from the territory's pre-war population since October 2023, with nearly every family now grieving for the dead or caring for the injured.
- Gaza has effectively become one of the world's largest tent cities, with ramshackle canvas and nylon shelters blanketing beaches, former agricultural lands, and vacant lots across the coastal territory.
- A 2025 ceasefire deal halted large-scale offensives and the heaviest bombardment, but Israel still regularly strikes tents, cars, and buildings in attacks that frequently kill women and children.
- Israel continues to bar most construction materials from entering Gaza, preventing residents from rebuilding and leaving the displaced with no pathway to permanent shelter.
- The ceasefire's reconstruction plan has stalled because Israel and Hamas have yet to reach agreement on disarming the group and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
- Most Gaza residents have been forced to move repeatedly to escape fighting and evacuation orders, though the relative halt in large-scale operations means people no longer flee from place to place daily.
Why it matters: With a 2025 ceasefire halting major offensives but Israel still striking tents and blocking construction materials, Gaza's tent cities — sheltering a population where over 10% has been killed or wounded — will persist indefinitely. Until Israel and Hamas resolve the disarmament and troop withdrawal impasse, rebuilding cannot begin, condemning displaced families to another season without permanent shelter.
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