DaysofPal – A Palestinian infant died early Tuesday after succumbing to extreme cold in Gaza City, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
Medical sources said the seven-month-old baby, Shatha Abu Jarad, passed away due to severe cold weather conditions. Her death brings the number of children who have died from extreme cold in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of winter to nine, amid a severe shortage of humanitarian aid and the absence of adequate heating.
The same sources stressed that the incident underscores the grave humanitarian conditions in Gaza, particularly for children and displaced families living in worn-out tents that offer little protection against harsh winter weather.
On Monday, Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal warned of serious consequences stemming from an unprecedented drop in temperatures across the territory. He said the cold had reached unbearable levels, stating, “We can barely feel our feet from the freezing temperatures, so how must it be for infants, the sick, and families living in dilapidated tents that provide no shelter from the cold or rain?”
In a related political development, Israel has barred members of the Palestinian technocratic committee designated to manage Gaza from entering the territory.
The Israeli daily Haaretz reported, citing sources, that Israel is refusing to allow committee members into Gaza and continues to oppose reopening the Rafah crossing, despite U.S. calls to do so as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
The report said that committee members had intended to enter Gaza this week through the Rafah crossing, but Israel prevented them from doing so. On Monday, Israel’s security cabinet decided not to reopen the crossing at this stage. The decision, reported by Yedioth Ahronoth, was described as part of a broader dispute with the United States over the second phase of the U.S.-backed plan.
Washington announced last week the launch of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on October 10, 2025. The agreement is based on a 20-point plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, stipulating that Gaza’s temporary administration would be managed by three main bodies: a Peace Council, a Palestinian technocratic committee, and an international stabilization force.
The Palestinian technocratic committee is intended to serve as the civilian executive authority in Gaza. It is a non-political body responsible for overseeing daily civil services and operations. As announced, the committee consists of 15 Palestinian professionals and is headed by Ali Shaath, former deputy Palestinian minister of planning.
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