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Gaza City – At least four Palestinians have been killed in recent days as winter storms batter the besieged Gaza Strip, exposing the perilous conditions faced by those displaced by ongoing conflict. The deaths underscore a deepening humanitarian crisis, even with a ceasefire in effect as October 10.
Gaza’s winter Woes: storms Claim Lives Amid Aid Shortages
Perilous living conditions persist for Palestinians, more then two years after the start of intense Israeli bombardment, and despite the current truce.
- At least four Palestinians have died due to collapsing structures and hypothermia since the start of winter.
- UNICEF reports at least 100 children have been killed since the truce began.
- Over two million Gazans struggle with cold, storms, and aid shortages.
The situation is dire, with many lacking adequate shelter and facing shortages of essential aid.
Three members of one family – 72-year-old mohammed Hamouda, his 15-year-old granddaughter, and his daughter-in-law – were killed on Tuesday when an eight-meter (26ft) high wall collapsed onto their tent in a coastal area of Gaza City, according to authorities at al-Shifa Hospital. At least five others sustained injuries in the incident. A second woman died when a wall fell on her tent in the western part of the city, hospital officials added.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that a one-year-old boy died of hypothermia overnight in the central town of Deir el-Balah,marking the seventh cold-related death since the beginning of winter. Earlier this week, the deaths of a seven-day-old infant and a four-year-old girl due to the cold were announced.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder stated that at least 100 children under the age of 18 – 60 boys and 40 girls – have been killed as the truce began, as an inevitable result of military operations, including drone and air attacks, tank shelling, and the use of live ammunition. Elder emphasized that this figure likely represents an undercount,as it only includes incidents with sufficient documentation. Hundreds of children have also been wounded.
Simultaneously occurring, the Israeli military reported exchanging fire on Tuesday with six individuals near its troops in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least two people in western Rafah.
The Gaza Health Ministry maintains detailed casualty records, considered reliable by UN agencies and self-reliant experts, and reports that more than 440 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire took effect.
Gaza’s population,exceeding two million,is struggling to cope with the cold and winter storms amid shortages of humanitarian aid and a critical lack of considerable temporary housing. The majority are residing in makeshift tents, their homes reduced to rubble. Aid organizations report that insufficient shelter materials are reaching Gaza.
The Ceasefire’s Limits
While a ceasefire has been in place since October 10, the truce has not translated into a significant improvement in living conditions for many Palestinians.The ongoing lack of adequate shelter and aid continues to pose a serious threat, particularly during the harsh winter months.