Outrage as Hamas 'Demands Rent' From Displaced Families to Sleep in Beach Tents in Southern Gaza

For thousands of Palestinian families already grappling with the loss of their homes and livelihoods, a new and bitter hardship has reportedly emerged from the coastline of the Gaza Strip. Amidst the torrential downpours and biting winds of Storm Byron, displaced residents seeking refuge in makeshift tents are now facing financial demands from the very group governing the enclave.

According to revelations made by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) this week, Hamas has begun charging rent for the patches of sand where destitute families have erected their temporary shelters.

The allegations surfaced on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, painting a grim picture of exploitation within the humanitarian zones. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF's Arabic spokesperson, released information indicating that the terror group is actively enforcing payment collection in al-Qarara, a municipality situated just north of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Impact of the Alleged Hamas Rent Demand on Families

The revelation centres on a document purportedly obtained by the military — a formal notice from the al-Qarara municipality. This missive reportedly outlines a strict ultimatum for the displaced population living along the coast: pay up or face the consequences. According to Col. Adraee, families who have already lost everything were given a mere week to complete the 'necessary procedures' and settle their dues with the local authorities.

For a population that has spent months moving from one unsafe location to another, often with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, this demand adds a layer of impossible financial strain to an already catastrophic existence. The IDF spokesperson did not mince words regarding the irony of the situation. He highlighted the jarring disconnect between a governing body that purportedly fights for its people and one that levies taxes on their displacement.

'The Hamas that caused a flood of destruction in the Gaza Strip, and seized homes, lands, and entire neighborhoods for its terrorist purposes, is the same Hamas that now demands that residents pay large sums in compensation for the damages that it caused,' Adraee stated on social media.

He further elaborated on the operational methods used to extract these funds, noting that the group's influence remains pervasive even in designated humanitarian areas. 'Hamas terrorists operate inside displacement camps and on the coast, forcibly demanding that residents pay rent,' he added.

Hamas Rent Demand Comes Amidst Severe Flooding

The timing of these financial demands could not be worse. The region has been battered by Storm Byron, a severe weather system that has unleashed heavy rains and caused widespread flooding across the coastal enclave. Images from the ground throughout the week have shown tents inundated with water, muddy pathways becoming impassable, and families struggling to keep their few possessions dry.

It is against this backdrop of natural disaster and man-made misery that the alleged extortion is taking place. The 'Hamas rent demand' effectively monetises the desperation of civilians who have fled to the beach because they have nowhere else to go. Col. Adraee condemned the leadership for what he described as a continued pattern of abuse against their own civilians.

'Hamas demands that residents pay huge amounts due to renting a space on the beach,' Adraee wrote in his post, accompanying the text with an image of the municipal demand. He characterised the situation as a clear narrative of cause and effect, where the instigators of the conflict are now profiteering from its fallout. 'It's a simple story. Hamas caused the destruction of homes and the displacement of people, and now it demands that those harmed by its actions pay money for the privilege,' Adraee noted.

As the storm rages and the humanitarian crisis deepens, these reports suggest that the governance structures in Gaza, far from providing aid, are imposing 'unreasonable payment demands' on those least able to afford them. The accusation that the group 'continues to drench the Gazans' path with corruption and exploitation' suggests that for the people of al-Qarara, the storm is not just meteorological, but political as well.