Palestinians living in makeshift tents have little protection from strong winds and rain, as most shelters are made of thin canvas and plastic sheeting while Israel continues to limit the number of tents and sustainable shelters entering Gaza, in violation of the ceasefire it agreed with Hamas in October as well as its obligations under international law as the occupying power in the Strip. It has also blocked other vital necessities, such as mobile homes, as well as tools and materials to fix damaged tents.

Temperatures at night in Gaza have fallen to as low as nine degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days. Waves of extreme cold coincide with the ongoing siege and the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. More than 1.5 million Palestinians have been displaced into camps that lack even the most basic necessities of humane living. There is a severe shortage of blankets and winter clothing, along with continued restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid.

On January 11, 2025, the death toll from severe cold in forced displacement camps has risen to 21 Palestinians babies including the 16 who died during the previous winter.

Gaza’s Civil Defence statement on January 10:

Gaza’s Civil Defence warns storms become humanitarian disasters due to blocked building materials and halted reconstruction. Thousands of tents and temporary shelters have been seriously damaged. Citizens are urged to secure their tents; mobile homes are not allowed in. Palestinians are forced to set up tents on beaches due to lack of space in cities after extensive destruction.

Crisis is man-made, not just weather-related.

List of the martyrs:

December 11, 2025, Rahaf Abu Jazar, 8 months old, in Khan Younis due to the cold and the flooding of her tent with rainwater.

December 18, 2025, 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, Said Asa’id Abdeen, 29-day-old infant died from extreme cold. He had no prior illness. Freezing temperatures caused blood to clot, stopping his heart. His father, Asa’id Abdeen (42), rushed him to Nasser hospital—but the cold was relentless.

On January 10, 2026: Mahmoud Al Aqraa (7 days), One-week-old Palestinian infant Mahmoud al Akra died due to cold weather in Deir al Balah, central Gaza. The baby's body was brought to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for funeral rites, as grieving relatives mourned his death.

On January 11, 2026: Mohammed Wissam Abu Harbeed (two months old) in Gaza City due to the severe cold. He was less than a month old. He froze to death this morning in a displacement camp in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip