Eight people killed in Gaza by severe cold and building collapse

Eight Palestinians have died in Gaza due to a severe weather depression that brought torrential rain and freezing winds to the coastal enclave. The deaths occurred as a result of cold temperatures, with four recorded fatalities attributed to hypothermia. Four other Palestinians were killed when war-damaged buildings toppled during the storm.

The Civil Defence has reported an influx of patients at hospitals across Gaza, particularly children, suffering from cold-related illnesses. The organisation received hundreds of calls for support due to extreme cold. Shelters damaged by the storm are no longer fit for use, while tents in western Gaza City were blown away completely by strong winds.

Israel continues to block aid and critical supplies from entering the besieged Gaza Strip, violating a ceasefire that began on October 10. A spokesperson for Hamas expressed regret over the international community’s failure to provide relief to Gaza, citing the rising death toll and spread of illness as evidence of “genocide”.

The situation in Gaza is dire, with tens of thousands of displaced people living in flimsy shelters. The low-pressure system is expected to bring cold temperatures to Gaza until at least Tuesday evening.

According to officials, 10,000 families on Gaza’s coast are exposed to danger and further displacement due to the storm. Gaza City Mayor Yahya al-Sarraj described Palestinians as being trapped in “tragic” circumstances, sheltering in inadequate tents and shelters with insufficient supplies of medicine.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the situation in Gaza, calling it a “man-made humanitarian catastrophe”. A spokesperson for the ministry stated that Qatar is working with mediators to push for the transition to the second phase of the Gaza agreement.

Source: Al Jazeera