Days of Pal – The night in Gaza was more than just a few hours after night fell. It became a harsh trial for both bodies and spirits. The past night, described by meteorological authorities as the coldest of the year, laid bare the depth of suffering endured by hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, particularly those confined to tents that resemble homes in name only.
With every gust of wind, the tents shook as though they might be torn from the ground. Thin fabrics, torn plastic sheets, and openings left unrepaired for months provided little barrier against the cold. The chill was not only in the air but also in the ground itself, which absorbed the warmth of exhausted bodies.
Abu Khalil Siyam, 52, crouched inside his tent and described the night as unbearable. “All night, I kept my hand pressed against the plastic wall so the wind would not blow directly onto the children,” he said. “I could feel the cold biting into my fingers. The tent does not protect us. We are only trying to convince ourselves that we are still alive.”
Shared Blankets and a Distant Dream of Warmth
Inside a tent measuring only a few square meters in the Sanabel camp in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, a family of seven survives with just two blankets. The blankets are damp and heavy, yet they remain the family’s only defense against the cold.
“I wrapped my baby in my own clothes and covered the others with one blanket,” said 29-year-old Um Yazan Sorour, clutching her infant to her chest. “I kept watching their chests to see if they were still breathing. I did not sleep for a single minute. Fear was stronger than exhaustion.”
Her voice faltered as she added that a child does not understand war or siege, only the cold.
The absence of mattresses turned the ground into another source of suffering. The cold of the soil crept into bones, worsening joint pain, particularly among the elderly.
Abu Ali Alwan, 63, displaced for months, recalled his struggle. “I put a piece of cardboard under my back, but it did nothing,” he said. “I felt the cold reaching my bones. In my home, I used to complain about the cold, but I never knew the ground itself could be this cruel.”
No Heating and Dangerous Attempts to Survive
With no electricity, fuel, or firewood, the cold dominated every moment. Some families resorted to lighting small fires using cardboard or plastic, despite the risk of suffocation and toxic fumes.
“We know the smoke is dangerous,” said 24-year-old Medhat Al-Khatib, “but the children were shivering. We chose what felt like the lesser of two evils: the cold or the smoke.”
There was no real sleep that night, only brief, uneasy dozes and a long wait for dawn, seen as a temporary rescue. When the light finally broke, faces appeared pale, eyes red, and bodies utterly drained, bearing silent witness to another night survived in Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis.
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