Trump’s Board of Peace Criticizes Israel Over Weak Response to Gaza Flash Floods

POLICY WIRE — Jerusalem, Israel — — The Board of Peace, established by the Donald Trump administration, has called on Israel to facilitate vital humanitarian aid into Gaza, labeling the nation’s reaction to severe flooding over the weekend as inadequate.

According to the United Nations Nations, heavy seasonal storms have submerged tens of thousands of tents in the territory, where nearly 2 million Palestinians currently reside displaced.

In a statement released Monday, the Board emphasized that the immediate entry and distribution of supplies for shelter, sanitation, drainage, and winter protection are essential for safeguarding civilian lives.

The organization, which was supported by a UN Security Council resolution, was designed to manage the reconstruction of Gaza and oversee a ceasefire signed one year prior; however, operations for the group have been at a standstill for several months.

The Board urged Israeli authorities to permit the import of materials for temporary housing, water and sanitation systems, waste management, and sewage and drainage infrastructure. A significant portion of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been leveled during the three-year conflict involving Israeli military operations.

Since the provisional ceasefire began in October 2025, UN data indicates that nearly daily Israeli strikes have resulted in more than 1,400 deaths in Gaza, with no medical facilities in the area remaining fully operational.

Philippe Lazzarini, who previously led the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), suggested the board’s critique of the response was actually an understatement. Lazzarini praised the board for the rare acknowledgment that Israel is failing to manage the crisis, but also criticized the organization for not using its influence to stop what he called the disgraceful dystopian misery of the Palestinian population.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that a sand embankment in Deir al-Balah collapsed Sunday evening over displaced tents following the torrential rains, resulting in the deaths of one woman and three children.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who spearheaded an international effort to sanction Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, stated that the situation is heartbreaking due to the heavy rain and flooded shelters. Posting on X, Miliband vowed the UK government would not remain idle and would continue until the intolerable suffering ends.

On Sunday, Israeli officials stated that over 91,000 tents had entered Gaza prior to the winter season, though the military refuses to allow the heavy machinery necessary for major debris removal and cleanup tasks.

Israel’s Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) maintained that rebuilding efforts cannot proceed until Hamas has undergone a full disarmament. The agency noted that Israel will not allow equipment in that could be utilized to build terrorist capabilities.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)