On December 12, 2025 as a severe storm struck Gaza, three children lost their lives to the cold. Rahaf Abu Jazar was eight months old, Hadeel Hamdan was nine and Taim Al-Khawaja was an infant. They did not die from bombs or bullets, but from the harshness of winter.
While Israel’s war machine has eased, the aftermath of the past two years of relentless attacks has left Gaza’s infrastructure decimated, worsening every aspect of life and creating new silent threats.
The children who died were displaced after their home was bombed, and had been living in tents. But these tents don’t retain any warmth, no matter what you do the cold creeps in, turning tiny lips blue in the night. There are also no gas or electric heaters to reduce the cold temperatures.
Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are now living in flimsy tents that are neither waterproof nor able to stand against the winds. Meanwhile, others, with nowhere else to go, have taken refuge in their half-shattered houses. ….more
