Three Palestinian babies have lost their lives to hypothermia over the past two days, as extreme weather conditions ravage the besieged Gaza Strip. The tragic incidents occurred at the al-Mawasi refugee camp located near Khan Younis, wherein the babies succumbed to the brutal cold amid Israel's continuing blockade on basic necessities like food, water, and winter supplies.
Sila Mahmoud al-Faseeh, the three-week-old infant, was reported dead shortly after her parents struggled against the frigid temperatures, which plummeted to 48 degrees Fahrenheit (about 9 degrees Celsius) at night. Ahmed al-Farra, the director of the children’s ward at Nasser Hospital, confirmed the baby's chilling fate, recounting how two additional newborns—a three-day-old and one-month-old—had also died in similar circumstances.
According to Ahmad al-Farra, the head of pediatrics at the hospital, "She was in good health and she was born naturally, but because of the severe cold... led to her death." His words encapsulate the heartache faced by countless families enduring similar conditions, as their makeshift shelters fail to protect them from the elements.
Describing the dire situation, Sila's father, Mahmoud al-Faseeh, commented, "Only God knows our conditions. Our situation is very difficult." His family had experienced the horrid reality of displacement multiple times, leaving them to huddle together on cold sand, with insufficient blankets to ward off the relentless chill.
This harrowing scenario is amplified by the fact the Israeli military has declared al-Mawasi to be a "humanitarian safe zone" for those displaced during the conflict. Yet, contrary to its label, this location offers little refuge. Dr. Munir al-Bursh, the director general of the Gaza Health Ministry, stated plainly on social media, "[Al-Faseeh] froze to death from the extreme cold," highlighting the grave irony of the designated safe zone.
The conditions faced by those who reside there have deteriorated significantly since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Gaza in October 2023, which has resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians, according to recent reports from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The majority of these fatalities are women and children—many falling victim not only to direct military actions but also to the underlying impacts of war, such as exposure to extreme temperatures.
The continued blockade has severely restricted humanitarian aid, limiting the entry of food, water, and warm clothing—much needed to brace against winter's grip. According to the United Nations, nearly 1 million individuals require winter supplies, yet Israeli forces have permitted only enough aid to meet about 23 percent of the shelter needs for the winter season.
Aid groups struggle with delivering necessary supplies to the beleaguered residents, and shortages of blankets, warm clothing, and firewood persist. The lack of adequate shelter has left many families outside without proper protection from the biting cold and rain. The UN has warned of increasing risks of infectious diseases due to exposure to cold temperatures exacerbated by malnutrition and untreated illnesses.
The deaths of Sila and the other babies raise the poignant question of how many lives are lost to conditions exacerbated by the violent environment, with their deaths largely excluded from Gaza's official death toll, which primarily accounts for direct casualties from military actions. It stands at over 45,000, with the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reporting on Tuesday alone, the occurrence of one child being killed hourly.
"Killing children cannot be justified. Those who survive are scarred physically and emotionally. Deprived of learning, boys and girls in Gaza sift through the rubble," noted the UNRWA. Children, seen as the most vulnerable members of society, bear the brunt of consequences during crises like this, suffering from not just the loss of life, but from the horrific violence rippling through their lives.
International humanitarian organizations have condemned the situation, asserting it serves as a grim reminder of the consequences faced by civilians amid military operations. Ahmed al-Farra referred to the sickeningly stark reality, stating, "This is a screaming example of the consequences of this unfair war and its impact on the people of the Gaza Strip," reinforcing the pressing need for urgent global intervention and support.
With increasing international scrutiny on Israel's military approach, renewed calls for humanitarian relief efforts, including suggested cease-fires and medical evacuation programs for vulnerable children, continue to resound. Advocates stress the necessity of immediate actions to address the humanitarian crisis, especially for children, as each passing moment escalates the stakes for this vulnerable demographic.
Reports focus not just on the death toll but on the plight of those who manage to survive against unimaginable odds, left trailing the scars of conflict as they forge forward through tenuous living conditions. The weight of these tragedies urges people across the globe to pay attention and act, ensuring the world does not turn away from the dire humanitarian crisis engulfing Gaza.
