18 Children among 21 dead from extreme cold in besieged Gaza

A deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has taken a lethal turn with the onset of winter, as extreme cold claims the lives of at least 21 Palestinians, the majority of whom are children. The deaths highlight the collapse of living conditions for over 1.5 million displaced people who lack basic shelter, warmth, and survival essentials amid ongoing Israeli military operations and a stringent blockade.

Children Bear the Brunt of Exposure

According to a statement from the Gaza Government Media Office, 18 of the 21 confirmed cold-related fatalities are infants and children. Families are forced to endure freezing temperatures, rain, and wind in makeshift tents or the rubble of destroyed buildings, with no means of heating. The statement warned that impending cold waves and frost pose a severe, immediate threat to the most vulnerable, including the elderly.

Infrastructure Collapse Compounds the War

The cold-weather deaths occur alongside the collapse of over 50 previously bombarded buildings in recent weeks, trapping and killing civilians under the debris. This underscores the compound dangers faced by a population living amid ruined infrastructure, with no functional waste collection, rampant disease, and a crippled healthcare system. The situation is described by local authorities as a direct result of continued Israeli attacks, the blockade, and the forced displacement of the majority of Gaza's population.

Aid Blockade and International Law Concerns

International aid agencies have repeatedly warned that the Israeli blockade severely restricts the flow of vital winter supplies, including fuel, blankets, and weatherproof tents, in violation of international humanitarian law. The escalating death toll from exposure, distinct from direct combat, points to a man-made disaster where civilian survival is impossible under the current siege conditions, raising urgent calls for an unimpeded humanitarian corridor and a permanent ceasefire.