Between Israeli attacks and winter cold, helpless Gazans struggle to survive

Surviving relentless Israeli attacks for the past 15 months, displaced civilians are now struggling to stay alive amid freezing winter cold in the Gaza Strip.

“The humanitarian situation of the displaced is tragic,” Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna told Anadolu.

“They have no means of heating, fuel, clothing or blankets, and no permanent solutions to improve their living conditions.”

Civilians have been under a brutal Israeli war since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 45,600 people, mostly women and children, and injuring over 108,400 others.

Tel Aviv has also imposed a stifling blockade on the enclave, leaving the territory’s entire population on the verge of famine.

A cold wave and torrential rains have even worsened conditions for the helpless civilians, leaving them struggling to live in their worn-out tents in displacement camps.

According to local health authorities, at least seven people, including six babies, have frozen to death over the past week in Gaza.

“The harsh winter weather exacerbates the suffering of the displaced, and rainwater soaks their belongings and exposes them to severe cold,” Muhanna said.