Four Palestinians lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to the partial collapse of buildings previously damaged by Israeli airstrikes, as a polar storm continues to sweep through the area.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds caused sections of already-weakened structures to collapse, resulting in the deaths of Mohammed Hammouda (72), Doaa Hammouda (40), Reemas Hammouda (15), and Hayam Shareer (33). Several others sustained serious injuries, including Mohammed Al-Basyouni (35), who was injured while sheltering in a temporary tent for displaced people.
This humanitarian disaster unfolds amid a severe shortage of shelter and heating. More than 127,000 tents for displaced people in Gaza are unsuitable for habitation. Thousands of families live in tattered tents with no mattresses or blankets to shield them from freezing rain and cold, exposing civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly, to respiratory illnesses, infectious diseases, and an increased risk of death.
These conditions amount to a flagrant violation of international law, which prohibits the targeting of civilians and obliges occupying powers to protect civilian populations and their homes. The targeting of civilian infrastructure and the neglect of displaced people living in uninhabitable tents during extreme weather conditions is tantamount to a slow death policy through forced displacement and deprivation of shelter and warmth, deepening the civilian tragedy systematically.
Despite a ceasefire agreement coming into effect last October, Israeli occupation continues to block the entry of reconstruction materials, further exacerbating the plight of Palestinians and increasing their vulnerability to death through collapsing buildings and inadequate shelters. This represents a continuation of grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has also been devastated, with 96 primary healthcare centres suspended and 38 hospitals destroyed. This makes it nearly impossible to treat injuries and emergencies, significantly raising the risk of death among patients, the elderly, and infants.
The deaths of these four Palestinians are a stark reminder that civilians in Gaza live under constant threat due to Israeli policies. The humanitarian crisis is not a temporary emergency, it is a cumulative result of deliberate and systematic practices, including bombardment, displacement, obstruction of reconstruction, and denial of basic protections and necessities.
Immediate international action is urgently required to ensure safe protection for civilians, and to provide proper shelter, heating, food, and clean water, before the winter cold claims even more lives.
