Heavy rains flooded tent encampments of displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, adding seasonal winter misery to communities already devastated by 13 months of onslaught, as Israeli forces stepped up strikes in the enclave. Downpours overnight inundated tents and in some places washed away the plastic and cloth shelters used by displaced Gazans, most of whom have been uprooted several times during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Some placed water buckets on the ground to protect mats from leaks and dug trenches to drain water away from their tents. Many tents used early in the conflict have now worn out and no longer offer protection, but the price of new tents and plastic sheeting has shot up beyond the means of displaced families. Read the full Reuters story .