The United Nations has condemned the situation in Gaza, where infants and others are reportedly freezing to death, highlighting that approximately 945,000 individuals require assistance to find shelter from the winter elements.
Palestinian health authorities have reported that over 110 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on the region in the past two days.
With children succumbing to hypothermia, the UN’s migration agency expressed deep concern about the “devastating impact” of winter rains and plummeting temperatures on displaced Palestinians, which are exacerbating the “unparalleled humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
Heavy rainfall and flooding have overwhelmed displacement sites and makeshift shelters, leaving families vulnerable to the harsh conditions as they struggle to repair tents damaged from prolonged use, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The IOM emphasized the urgent need for tarpaulins to protect shelters from rain and cold.
The agency stated that access constraints have “severely hindered” aid deliveries, with only 285,000 individuals receiving shelter support since September of last year.
As of mid-December, the Shelter Cluster—a coordination group comprising UN, international, and local humanitarian organizations—estimated that at least 945,000 people are in urgent need of winter assistance, according to the IOM.
There is an urgent demand for thermal clothing, blankets, and tarpaulins to insulate shelters against rain and cold.
The IOM reported it has more than 1.5 million winter supplies, including tents and bedding kits, ready in warehouses.
However, “severe access restrictions are preventing these supplies from reaching those in need,” the agency stated.
“The people of Gaza deserve safety, shelter, and dignity,” it added.
The IOM urged for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access, along with the release of all hostages.
As the conflict escalates, Israel announced it has conducted airstrikes on numerous Hamas targets in the area over the past 24 hours, claiming that these attacks have resulted in more than 110 deaths in two days.
This surge in military operations and casualties coincides with renewed efforts to secure a truce before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
Israeli mediators were sent yesterday to reinitiate discussions in Doha, which are being facilitated by Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries.
The Gaza health ministry reported that more than 40 individuals died on Friday following 71 fatalities the day before, including in Al-Mawasi, a previously declared humanitarian safe zone by Israeli authorities.
The Israeli military claims to have targeted around 40 Hamas gathering sites as well as command and control centers.
They have stated that they have enacted numerous measures to mitigate civilian harm, including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and other intelligence efforts.
Israel has accused Hamas of placing fighters in civilian areas, including former schools, where troops have reportedly discovered various weapons.
Hamas has denied allegations that it intentionally uses the civilian population to shield its fighters.
The Israeli military instructed civilians in the al-Bureij area of central Gaza to evacuate ahead of an operation launched in response to rocket fire from that region, advising them to seek refuge in humanitarian zones for their own safety.
In other locations, Israeli troops have been engaged in confrontations with Hamas militants persisting in towns at the northern end of the enclave for the past month, continuing to uncover weapons caches and underground infrastructure.
Israel’s military initiative in Gaza came in response to a Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, when militants infiltrated border communities, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli estimates.
The Israeli military operation, which aims to dismantle Hamas, has devastated large areas of the enclave, displacing most individuals from their homes and causing 45,658 Palestinian fatalities, according to the Gaza health ministry.
The brutal winter conditions have exacerbated the suffering of hundreds of thousands who are seeking shelter in makeshift tent camps.
Stalled diplomacy efforts continue, as the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have attempted to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release for the past year without success, making another push this month before Mr. Trump’s inauguration.
Efforts for a ceasefire have consistently faltered due to core disagreements over how to resolve the conflict.
Hamas has declared it will agree to a truce and release hostages only if Israel commits to halting the war.
Conversely, Israel has asserted it will cease fighting only after Hamas has been dismantled.
President Joe Biden has repeatedly advocated for a ceasefire.
Trump warned that if no hostage release agreement is reached before his inauguration, “all hell is going to break out.”
While Israeli forces have penetrated nearly every part of Gaza, they are still engaged in combat with Hamas militants conducting guerrilla warfare amid the devastation of the enclave.
Throughout the autumn, Israel’s military escalated combat in northern Gaza, consistently commanding all civilians to evacuate while maintaining heavy strikes in the southern regions as well.
In late December, the Gaza health ministry reported single-day death tolls, including 48 on December 28, 58 on December 22, and 77 on December 20.
December witnessed a toll increase of 1,124, as compared to 1,170 in November and 1,621 in October, based on ministry data.
Israeli military operations targeted Hamas militants in the southern city of Khan Younis and the Masawi camp for displaced persons, which they classify as a humanitarian zone.
When questioned about the reported death toll, a spokesperson for the Israeli military claimed compliance with international law in conducting operations in Gaza, asserting that they take “feasible precautions to reduce civilian harm.”
