♎The Gaza Strip is facing a dire humanitarian situation as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, displaced by nearly 15 months of war, struggle to survive in temporary shelters.
🍎As winter sets in, the already dire conditions are worsening, with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians facing freezing temperatures, shortages of essential resources, and the continued threat of violence. Meanwhile, disturbing reports of hostage abuse and rising tensions in the West Bank highlight the complex and volatile nature of the region.
Infant deaths due to cold in Gaza’s tents
ꦗThe Gaza Strip is facing a dire humanitarian situation as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, displaced by nearly 15 months of war, struggle to survive in temporary shelters. The onset of winter has exacerbated the crisis, with temperatures regularly dropping below 10°C (50°F). Tragically, the harsh conditions have claimed the lives of four infants in recent weeks, including a 20-day-old baby named Jomaa al-Batran. His father described him as being “as cold as ice” when he was found early on a Sunday morning.
𒆙Jomaa’s twin brother, Ali, was moved to intensive care at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, though the hospital, like many in Gaza, is overwhelmed and functioning at only a fraction of its capacity. Al-Batran, whose family lives in a tent with limited resources, explained that it was impossible to keep the babies warm in the freezing temperatures.
𝄹The family's tragic experience highlights the growing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where medical facilities are struggling to cope with the immense casualties from the ongoing conflict.
Israeli report shows abuse of hostages held by Hamas
🦩An Israeli Health Ministry report, released over the weekend, has drawn attention to the severe physical, psychological, and sexual abuse faced by hostages held by Hamas. The report, based on interviews with over 100 hostages released during a temporary ceasefire, details horrifying accounts of abuse, including beatings, starvation, and sexual assault. Some of the hostages, including women and children, were forced to endure sexual violence and isolation at the hands of their captors.
🌳The findings, which are being forwarded to the United Nations, are expected to put additional pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consider negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages. Over 250 individuals, including children, were taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7, 2023 attack, and at least 100 are still believed to be held in Gaza, with many feared dead.
Palestinian woman killed, family blame security forces
Tensions in the West Bank have also escalated. A Palestinian woman, 22-year-old Shatha al-Sabbagh, was shot dead in her home in Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank. The shooting 🔜occurred during a rare operation by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, who were targeting local militants. Al-Sabbagh’s family, however, claimed that there were no militants in the area at the time of the incident and accused the Palestinian security forces of using excessive force. They also noted that Shatha was the sister of a Hamas fighter killed in clashes with Israeli forces last year.
༒This tragic incident has sparked protests in the West Bank, with some demonstrators blaming the Palestinian security forces for targeting civilians rather than addressing the ongoing Israeli occupation. Hamas has also condemned the killing, highlighting the complex internal politics between the Palestinian Authority, which cooperates with Israel on security matters, and groups like Hamas.
Israeli strikes on Gaza hospitals
🎐In Gaza City, the violence intensified with an Israeli airstrike targeting the Wafa Hospital, which resulted in at least seven deaths and numerous injuries. The Israeli military claimed it struck a Hamas control center within the hospital, which it argued was no longer functioning as a medical facility. However, local health officials, affiliated with Hamas, contested this claim and emphasized that the hospital was still in use when the strike occurred.
♌Moreover, Israel's military reported that militants fired five rockets from northern Gaza into southern Israel. Though some were intercepted, others landed in open areas, causing injuries to three people in the Sderot municipality. This incident marks a rare uptick in rocket fire from northern Gaza, as Israeli forces had previously conducted extensive operations in the area.
🐻The Israeli offensive, which has been ongoing for over a year, has left more than 45,000 Palestinians dead, with women and children comprising more than half of the fatalities. The destruction of infrastructure, coupled with restrictions on humanitarian aid, has led to widespread hunger, putting the population at risk of disease and famine. Approximately 90 percent of Gaza's population has been displaced, often multiple times. The region's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water supplies, has been decimated, making it difficult for aid organizations to provide essential services. The ongoing fighting and siege have made the delivery of food, medicine, and other vital resources increasingly challenging.