GAZA (Reuters) – Yahya Al-Batran discovered a heartbreaking scene early Sunday morning as his wife, Noura, tried in vain to wake their newborn twin sons, Jumaa and Ali, in their makeshift tent in central Gaza. The family had been enduring intense winter cold and heavy rain, which had already made their lives unbearable. However, the situation took a tragic turn when Yahya found that Jumaa, just a month old, had succumbed to hypothermia. Six Palestinians in total had lost their lives due to exposure and cold in recent days, with Ali fighting for his life in intensive care.
As the conflict in Gaza entered its second winter, the harsh weather compounded the suffering of hundreds of thousands already displaced multiple times. Despite Israeli authorities claiming to have allowed aid into Gaza, international agencies reported hindrances by Israeli forces, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Yahya’s family, originally from Beit Lahiya, had sought refuge in various locations within Gaza, including the al-Maghazi humanitarian zone and later Deir al-Balah city. The dire conditions highlighted the vulnerability of families like the al-Batrans, struggling to survive in tattered tents amidst flooding and winds.
Gaza’s 2.3 million population faced a multifaceted humanitarian crisis, with decimated infrastructure, looting, and an unreliable aid system. The ongoing Israeli campaign against Hamas had left the enclave in ruins, with a staggering death toll and widespread destruction.
Calls for a ceasefire grew louder as the UN warned of looming famine, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian relief. Despite past hopes for a peace agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, prospects for a ceasefire seemed uncertain, leaving Gaza’s residents in a precarious state of uncertainty and despair.
An agreement is yet to be reached as the displaced continue to endure hardship. Israeli troops are currently engaged in fierce battles with Hamas fighters within the devastated vicinity surrounding the northern towns of Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya. These areas are now inaccessible to emergency services due to the ongoing conflict. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
