Displaced families in Gaza prepare for another round of winter rain while living in makeshift tents. The ongoing humanitarian crisis is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding ceasefire negotiations.
International
-Sathish Raman
Children
in
Gaza
played
on
cold
sand
as
displaced
families
prepared
their
makeshift
tents
for
more
winter
rain.
In
Deir
al-Balah,
some
families
have
lived
in
tents
for
nearly
two
years
due
to
the
ongoing
conflict
between
Israel
and
Hamas.
Fathers
reinforced
tents
with
old
wood,
while
mothers
hung
clothes
to
dry
between
rain
showers.
Shaima
Wadi,
a
mother
of
four
from
Jabaliya,
said,
“We
have
been
living
in
this
tent
for
two
years.
Every
time
it
rains
and
the
tent
collapses
over
our
heads,
we
try
to
put
up
new
pieces
of
wood.”
image
Displaced
families
in
Gaza
prepare
for
another
round
of
winter
rain
while
living
in
makeshift
tents.
The
ongoing
humanitarian
crisis
is
compounded
by
the
uncertainty
surrounding
ceasefire
negotiations.
Ahmad
Wadi
collects
materials
like
nylon
and
cardboard
from
the
streets
to
keep
his
family
warm.
He
uses
these
items
as
blankets
or
burns
them
for
heat.
“They
don’t
have
proper
covers.
It
is
freezing,
the
humidity
is
high,
and
water
seeps
in
from
everywhere.
I
don’t
know
what
to
do,” he
explained.
The
lack
of
adequate
shelter
leaves
many
vulnerable
to
harsh
weather
conditions.
Humanitarian
Concerns
and
Aid
The
Health
Ministry
in
Gaza
reported
that
dozens
have
died
from
hypothermia
or
building
collapses
due
to
weather
conditions.
Aid
organisations
are
urging
for
more
shelters
and
humanitarian
aid
to
be
allowed
into
the
area.
Emergency
workers
caution
against
staying
in
damaged
buildings,
but
options
are
limited
with
much
of
the
territory
destroyed.
Since
the
ceasefire
began
on
October
10,
414
Palestinians
have
died
and
1,142
have
been
injured,
according
to
Gaza’s
Health
Ministry.
The
ministry
also
reported
that
679
bodies
were
retrieved
from
rubble
during
this
period.
The
overall
death
toll
from
the
conflict
has
reached
at
least
71,266,
with
171,219
wounded.
Ceasefire
Developments
Israeli
Prime
Minister
Benjamin
Netanyahu
plans
to
visit
Washington
soon
as
discussions
continue
on
the
next
phase
of
the
ceasefire
agreement.
Although
largely
holding
since
October
10,
progress
has
slowed.
Key
issues
include
deploying
an
international
stabilization
force
and
disarming
Hamas.
Both
Israel
and
Hamas
accuse
each
other
of
violating
the
truce.
The
remains
of
a
hostage
taken
during
the
October
7
attack
are
still
in
Gaza.
The
ceasefire’s
next
phase
involves
establishing
a
technocratic
governing
body
for
Gaza
and
further
Israeli
troop
withdrawals.
West
Bank
Tensions
In
the
West
Bank,
Israeli
forces
continued
operations
in
Qabatiya
following
an
attack
in
northern
Israel.
A
Palestinian
attacker
rammed
a
car
into
a
man
and
stabbed
a
woman
on
Friday,
killing
both.
The
attacker
was
shot
and
injured
by
police
before
being
taken
to
a
hospital.
Israel’s
defense
minister
stated
that
forces
were
acting
“forcefully” in
Qabatiya.
Residents
reported
road
closures
and
curfews
as
Israeli
bulldozers
entered
the
town.
“They
announced
a
strict
curfew,”
said
Bilal
Hanash,
describing
how
dirt
barriers
blocked
main
roads.
The
Israeli
military
often
conducts
raids
in
towns
linked
to
attackers
or
demolishes
their
family
homes.
Israel
claims
these
actions
help
locate
militant
infrastructure
and
prevent
future
attacks,
though
rights
groups
view
them
as
collective
punishment.
With
inputs
from
PTI
