How Does Gaza Endure the Winter?

The French newspaper La Croix published a report detailing the struggles faced by Gaza’s residents during the winter, amid a war that has claimed the lives of over 45,000 martyrs.

In the report, translated by Arabi21, the newspaper mentioned that the resumption of negotiations brings renewed hope for a ceasefire. After months of failed attempts and unfruitful talks, it appears that the persistent pressure from the Donald Trump administration is yielding results.

Maram Faraj, a 27-year-old refugee from Khan Younis, expressed her optimism: “This time, a settlement will be reached, God willing.”

Nevertheless, Israeli warplanes continue their relentless bombardment, intensifying their raids in recent days. According to daily reports from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli airstrikes killed 46 people on Sunday, December 15, 52 on Monday, 31 on Tuesday, and 38 on Wednesday.

The report highlighted the horrifying crimes committed by Israeli forces, which have sparked outrage on social media platforms. One particularly shocking incident involved 20 victims, including a group burned alive during an airstrike on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school in western Khan Younis on Sunday evening.

A volunteer with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society’s emergency team at Nasser Hospital described the scenes: “I couldn’t count the number of casualties. I have never seen such injuries in my entire career. The first victim was a 3-year-old girl whose skull was pierced by shrapnel.” He added, “This was a massacre. Words cannot describe it.” Among the victims were 12 children under the age of 12.

70% of Gaza’s Buildings Destroyed

The report further noted that Jabalia has been reduced to a field of ash and death. Drone footage over northern Gaza captured the devastation of 14 months of bombing and military operations, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. The same fate has befallen Rafah in the southernmost part of the Strip.

According to an assessment by the UN Operational Satellite Applications Program (UNOSAT), Israeli airstrikes have destroyed approximately 70% of Gaza’s buildings.

The majority of Gaza’s population is enduring their second winter since the war began, living under bombardment and sleeping on the ground.

Amjad Al-Shawa, Director of the Palestinian NGO Network, remarked: “This winter will be harsher than the last.” While displaced individuals last year found shelter with relatives, in schools, or in hospitals, the scale of destruction this year has eliminated such options.

UN data indicates that 1.6 million of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are living in temporary shelters. Al-Shawa added: “The already dire living conditions have deteriorated further, leaving people malnourished, surrounded by mountains of garbage, and suffering from a severe shortage of medicine. Words can barely describe what we are experiencing.”

The Cold Reaches Everywhere

The report pointed out that over 400,000 Palestinians have taken refuge in around 100 sites in flood-prone areas, particularly along the coastline. In late November, during the first major winter storm, rising waters swept away tents and belongings from hundreds of families.

Hossam Saleh, an employee at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza, commented: “We have been struggling for months to establish shelters and bring in essential supplies in preparation for winter, but the season has arrived, and the needs remain unmet.”

Even those who still have a roof over their heads face immense challenges.

Asma Siyam, who lives with her mother and sister in Khan Younis, explained: “We no longer have windows due to the bombing. We had to cover them with plastic, but the cold seeps in from everywhere, and we have no means of heating.” Despite the urgent needs, humanitarian aid remains scarce.

Al-Shawa added: “People no longer have savings, forcing them to rely entirely on humanitarian aid. However, since September, aid has met only 5% of the required needs.”

One Meal a Day

On December 11, a convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid was looted after passing through the Kerem Shalom crossing. The theft caused prices to skyrocket and deepened the hunger crisis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Asma Siyam described her family’s struggles: “We only eat one meal a day, usually rice or pasta at noon. In the morning and evening, we share a single piece of bread among the three of us.” Overcrowding at bread distribution points has led to the deaths of seven people in a single month.

A Gaza-based observer noted that the recent drop in market prices could be “a sign of an imminent ceasefire, as traders prepare for a potential influx of humanitarian aid.”

Hopes for a Ceasefire in Gaza

After more than a year of conflict, hopes are pinned on achieving a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz claimed on Monday, December 16, that negotiators “have never been closer to reaching an agreement.” Meanwhile, Hamas announced that it had conducted “serious and positive negotiations.”

In conclusion, the report highlighted that diplomatic efforts have resumed in Doha in recent weeks following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of his desire to secure the release of all Israeli hostages before his inauguration on January 20.