An eighth baby has died from hypothermia in the Gaza Strip, where Israel’s ongoing military campaign has created dire conditions for Palestinians. The infant, Ali Youssef Ahmed Kloub, lived in a tent by the beach and succumbed to the severe cold that has gripped the region in recent days.
Ali’s mother shared the hardships her family has faced during the cold wave, revealing that they lacked essential supplies. She was forced to borrow bedding from other displaced families, who were also struggling to shield their children from the freezing temperatures.
Health officials reported that several children have died this winter from hypothermia, following Israel’s attacks and ongoing destruction in Gaza. Thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in Al-Mawasi, a coastal area west of Rafah. Al-Mawasi, designated by Israel as a “humanitarian area,” has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, recently emphasized the tragedy, stating that babies in Gaza are freezing to death due to the lack of shelter and essential supplies. Winter aid, including blankets and mattresses, has been stalled at the border, awaiting approval to enter Gaza.
Reports from Gaza indicate that civilians are enduring a harsh and deadly winter. Abubaker Abed, a reporter for Press TV, shared a heartbreaking account from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where a man searched desperately for his blood-soaked blanket after it was mistakenly discarded by hospital staff. He had no other means to stay warm and pleaded for its return.
As temperatures continue to drop, Gaza is bracing for another cold front. The father of the latest baby to die from hypothermia was seen crying in the hospital morgue. Tragically, this is not the first child he has lost to the cold; he has already mourned the deaths of two other children since winter began.
The deaths of these babies are part of a larger toll. Since Israel began its military campaign on October 7, 2023, more than 1,000 infants have died in Gaza. According to the Gaza Media Office, 1,091 babies have been killed in the past 15 months. Of these, 238 died immediately after birth.
Gaza’s health officials report that over 17,600 children have been killed since the offensive began, with one child dying approximately every 30 minutes. Palestinian authorities and human rights groups warn that more babies are at risk due to the extreme cold and inadequate shelter. Additionally, up to 17,000 children have been separated from their families and caregivers.
UNICEF has condemned the situation, stating that babies in Gaza are being “delivered into hell.” Since October 2023, Israel’s offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 45,800 Palestinians in Gaza. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics estimates that Gaza has lost around 6% of its population due to the ongoing violence.
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