Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza

Gaza City, Jan 13: At least eight Palestinians have died in the war-hit Gaza Strip after a severe storm brought freezing temperatures, heavy rain and strong winds, compounding the suffering of thousands of displaced people living in makeshift shelters, officials said.

A spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence said four deaths were recorded due to extreme cold caused by a weather depression that swept the coastal enclave. A source at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah said one of the victims was a one-year-old child who died inside a tent.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said several children have succumbed to hypothermia in recent days. “We’ve had children die of hypothermia again. Six children have died from hypothermia this winter alone,” he said.

Four other Palestinians were killed when buildings damaged in Israeli strikes collapsed during the storm, officials said. Three people, including a 15-year-old girl, died in one building collapse in Gaza City, while another person was killed in a separate incident.

Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal warned of severe consequences from the storm, noting that most of Gaza’s population lacks adequate shelter due to ongoing conflict and restrictions on the entry of construction materials and aid.

Hospitals across Gaza have reported a surge in patients, particularly children, suffering from cold-related illnesses. Civil Defence officials said they received hundreds of emergency calls as strong winds damaged tents and shelters, with some being blown away entirely.

Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza, said the situation was the worst since winter storms began, adding that around 10,000 coastal families face renewed danger and displacement. Gaza City Mayor Yahya al-Sarraj described the conditions as “tragic”, with insufficient shelter and medical supplies, and appealed for international pressure to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the situation as a “man-made humanitarian catastrophe” and urged Israel to allow aid into Gaza. A ministry spokesperson said efforts were ongoing with mediators to advance the next phase of the Gaza agreement and ensure the uninterrupted entry of humanitarian assistance.

UNICEF said more than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began in early October, underscoring the continuing risks faced by civilians despite the truce.