Istanbul/Gaza City: Seven displaced civilians, including six children, have died due to extreme cold after being forced to live in unsanitary conditions in tents amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, a local official told Anadolu Agency (AA).
“Six children and a nurse lost their lives due to the cold wave in the past few days,” Ismail Thawabateh, head of Gaza’s government media office, said on Monday.
He warned that the death toll could rise due to the existing tragic conditions in the enclave amid continued Israeli attacks.
“The lives of displaced Palestinians are really in danger amid heavy rains and cold waves because their tents have deteriorated and are not being protected,” Thawabateh said.
The Gaza Strip has been hit by cold wave and torrential rain since Sunday, putting the region’s 2.3 million population in further danger.
Many displaced civilians are living in makeshift tents amid deteriorating living conditions due to falling temperatures. Families lack basic necessities like clothes, bedding and blankets, leaving many infants vulnerable to cold.
The United Nations (UN) says that nine out of every 10 people have been displaced due to the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Thawabateh held the US, Israel and their supporters responsible for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territories.
He called on the international community and aid groups to intervene immediately to pressure Israel “to stop its genocidal war on Gaza and save civilian lives.”
Despite UN Security Council calls for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has killed more than 45,500 people in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Tel Aviv has imposed a strict blockade on Gaza, bringing the entire population of the region to the brink of famine.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case in the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
