A storm system sweeping across the eastern Mediterranean peaks on Saturday morning, bringing more than 100 millimetres of rain and threatening nearly 950,000 displaced Palestinians in flood-prone areas of Gaza.

Israel's Meteorological Service has issued an orange warning for flooding running until 10 p.m. on Saturday, covering the Carmel region, the northern, central and southern coastal areas and the Judean Foothills. Forecasters expect accumulated totals to exceed 100 millimetres along the coastal plain, with a genuine risk of significant urban flooding from the Tel Aviv metropolitan area south towards Ashkelon. Strong westerly winds are also expected.

Tents in the flood zone

The same weather system is aimed at Gaza, where the UN humanitarian office reported on 15 October that approximately 950,000 displaced Palestinians were living in locations exposed to moderate or high flood risk, including more than 400,000 in places classified as highly vulnerable.

Gaza's government media office said in August that more than 2.15 million displaced Palestinians are living across the enclave, including roughly 867,000 in deteriorating tents. Gaza's Winter Emergency Committee has counted about 200,000 worn-out tents still in use, and identified around 7,800 tents in particularly hazardous places — dry riverbeds, rainwater ponds and exposed coastal ground — that it says need urgent relocation.

Rescue equipment largely destroyed

Gaza's Civil Defence warned on Thursday that heavy rain and strong winds could endanger displaced families in tents and temporary shelters, and families in damaged buildings at risk of collapse. It urged residents to secure tent pegs and sheeting, build earthen barriers and move to safer ground where possible.

The Winter Emergency Committee says roughly 70 per cent of municipalities' equipment and 90 per cent of Civil Defence rescue equipment have been destroyed, leaving only a handful of ageing tankers and portable pumps to clear drainage and reach families.