Three Palestinian children have died in the Gaza Strip since Sunday from exposure to cold, amid a severe shortage of shelter and heating caused by Israel‘s ongoing blockade.
A two-month-old baby died on Sunday, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Two more children died on Monday – a four-year-old and a newborn baby aged seven days.
The ministry said at least six children have died from the cold since the start of the winter season.
According to the Gaza-based Government Media Office, at least 21 people, including 18 children, have died from the cold since the start of Israel’s genocidal war in October 2023. All were living in makeshift displacement camps.
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“We warn of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences resulting from the severe cold waves striking the Gaza Strip,” the office said in a statement on Sunday.
“These conditions threaten a further rise in the number of victims – particularly among children, the sick and the elderly – if this catastrophic humanitarian situation continues without urgent intervention.”
During an intense two-year bombing campaign, Israel has destroyed large swathes of Gaza’s homes, hospitals and civilian infrastructure.
Around 1.5 million people remain without adequate shelter today, as the ongoing Israeli blockade continues to restrict the entry of tents, mobile homes and heating supplies, in a violation of the ceasefire signed in October.
According to the Shelter Cluster, an inter-agency mechanism, more than 42,000 tents and makeshift shelters were damaged between 10 and 17 December 2025 alone due to storms, affecting nearly a quarter of a million people in the besieged enclave.
Jonathan Fowler, the communications director for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), stressed that the blockaded strip requires expanded relief deliveries, instead of additional restrictions imposed by Israel.
Anadolu Agency quoted him as describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” despite the ceasefire agreement.
According to Fowler, the winter has only exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the enclave, as respiratory diseases are on the rise. The UN communications director added that children are amongst the most vulnerable populations.
Ahmad al-Farra, director of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital, told Haaretz that there has been a surge of patients with winter-related illnesses.
The doctor warned that there is a lack of flu vaccines, inhalers and antiviral medications.
The director of al-Shifa Hospital, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, also told the Israeli publication that the number of patients coming to the emergency room has doubled and stands at about 800 people a day – most of them due to flu and respiratory illnesses.
“The bed occupancy rate is over 150 percent, pediatric wards are completely full, and admissions to intensive care units have increased,” he added.
Israel plans renewed Gaza offensive
Meanwhile, Israeli attacks across the besieged enclave continue, with local media reporting shelling, gunfire and air strikes across Gaza.
Despite the ceasefire edging towards a second phase, the Israeli military is reportedly planning a renewed offensive in March aimed at seizing additional territory and pushing the so-called Yellow Line further west towards Gaza’s coastline, according to The Times of Israel.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said on Saturday that the group had taken a “clear decision” to dissolve the governing bodies administering Gaza and hand their responsibilities to a technocratic committee.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and obstructing the transition to the second phase of the US-backed plan for Gaza, which includes the deployment of an international stabilisation force.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed Turkey’s participation in the force, a stance that has reportedly discouraged other potential contributors, including Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire, killing more than 442 Palestinians over three months in nearly 1,200 documented breaches, including air strikes, shelling and the demolition of homes.
Overall, Israel has killed more than 71,400 Palestinians since October 2023, with at least 171,318 others wounded.
