'I lie awake': Palestinians in north Gaza brave harsh winter in the open

While Linda Jarour was sleeping in her neighbour's tent near the ruins of her home in northern Gaza’s Jabalia, a roofing sheet fell onto the tent. The heavy rain and strong winds had caused it to batter her shelter.

“I thought it was an Israeli air strike,” the 45-year-old told Middle East Eye. “It fell close to me and my husband.”

Since returning to northern Gaza after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Palestinians have been grappling with the lack of shelters that could protect them from the cold and rainy winter.

Most have returned to destroyed homes, forced to sleep in makeshift shelters, which have been hit by heavy rain and strong winds over the past week.

In October 2023, Jarour and her husband al-Khateb, 55, fled their home after intense Israeli bombardment rocked their neighbourhood.

Read more: 'I lie awake': Palestinians in north Gaza brave harsh winter in the open