A flash of light followed by the sound of an explosion was observed over Gaza early on Saturday, according to witnesses, as severe winter storms worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
The circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear.
The development comes as U.S. officials say international troops could be deployed to the Gaza Strip as early as next month as part of a United Nations-authorised stabilisation force aimed at addressing both security and humanitarian concerns. No formal decision has yet been announced by the UN.
At the same time, torrential rainfall since Thursday has flooded hundreds of tents sheltering families displaced by nearly two years of conflict, aid agencies and local officials said. The flooding has left thousands exposed to cold temperatures and at risk of further displacement. Municipal authorities and civil defence teams said fuel shortages, damaged equipment and limited resources were hampering response efforts and slowing rescue and relief operations.
Displaced residents described desperate conditions in overcrowded camps.
“All night long, the children and I were on our feet,” said Youssef Tawtah, a displaced Palestinian. “If I, an adult, can’t handle it, how can small children? None of us slept. Our food is ruined. We are helpless.”
The United Nations estimates that around 850,000 displaced people in Gaza are at high risk of flooding due to severe winter storms. According to UN agencies, at least three children have died from hypothermia, while 14 people were killed by collapsing structures caused by heavy rain and strong winds.
The UN said hundreds of thousands of tents have been damaged, leaving families exposed to cold and worsening living conditions. Rescue teams continue to assist affected communities, but shortages of equipment, fuel and shelter materials are significantly limiting their ability to respond.
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Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $119 a barrel, as conflict in the Middle East rumbled on. Meanwhile, the Turkish Military said NATO air defence systems destroyed a missile fired from Iran towards the country.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $119 a barrel, as conflict in the Middle East rumbled on. Meanwhile, the Turkish Military said NATO air defence systems destroyed a missile fired from Iran towards the country.
Kyrgyzstan recorded the largest increase in women’s representation in parliament worldwide in 2025, according to a new report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as online “disinformation” and reiterating the strength of relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East.
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