Social Development Ministry Holds Israeli Occupation Responsible for Sand Cliff Collapse on Displaced Families’ Tents in Deir al-Balah

The Ministry of Social Development in the Gaza Strip has held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe that occurred this evening, Sunday, when a sand cliff collapsed onto the tents of displaced people at one of the shelter centres south of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, killing five martyrs, among them children and a woman, and injuring others with varying degrees of wounds, while search operations for missing persons continue.

In its statement, the ministry affirmed that this tragedy is a direct result of the occupation’s arbitrary measures, namely the reduction of the areas available for displacement and the moving of the so-called “Yellow Line,” which forcibly compelled citizens to pitch their tents in geographically high-risk areas.

It stressed that the occupation bears full responsibility for this tragedy due to its reduction of land area by moving the so-called Yellow Line, and its persistent obstruction and prevention of the entry of shelter supplies, construction materials, caravans and basic needs in order to prevent the recurrence of such painful incidents.

The ministry called on the United Nations, the European Union, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to exert serious and immediate pressure on the occupation to abide by the agreements and withdraw behind the “Yellow Line,” and to allow the immediate entry of mobile homes (caravans) and the implementation of relief infrastructure projects.

It warned that turning a blind eye to this means the continuation of the crime of genocide and the fall of more innocent victims among children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

It affirmed that this humanitarian catastrophe clearly reflects the scale of the harsh and continuing risks surrounding displaced people in shelter centres and camps, especially amid the absence of basic safety conditions and the fragility of infrastructure and tents that cannot withstand extreme conditions.

It demanded the strengthening of urgent relief support for shelter centres across the Gaza Strip, calling on international institutions to act immediately to find radical solutions that guarantee the protection of civilians and displaced people and provide their most basic human rights to a dignified and safe life before it is too late, and so that such a painful catastrophe is not repeated.

The ministry mourned the martyrs, expressing its deep sorrow and regret over this catastrophe, offering its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to their families, and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.