Gaza Strip / Doha : The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has sharply intensified as severe winter storms and renewed violence claimed multiple lives, even as ceasefire negotiations continue behind closed doors.
At least 14 people were killed due to powerful storms, according to local health officials, including three children who died from hypothermia. The deaths occurred after 13 homes collapsed, many of which had been structurally weakened during previous Israeli military operations. Heavy rain, strong winds, and freezing nighttime temperatures have left thousands of displaced families exposed and vulnerable.
Separately, Israeli drone strikes near Khan Younis killed five Palestinians, including two children, local medical sources said. The Israeli military confirmed conducting operations in the area, while also reporting that four Israeli soldiers were wounded in a Hamas attack in Rafah, highlighting the fragile security situation on the ground.
Amid the violence, diplomatic efforts continue. Hamas senior negotiator Basem Naim, speaking from Doha, Qatar, said the group is willing to lay down its weapons for up to ten years as part of a broader ceasefire agreement. However, he stressed that meaningful progress would require greater international pressure on Israel, particularly to address civilian safety and humanitarian access.
“These talks will not succeed without serious guarantees,” Naim said, emphasizing the need for reconstruction, relief aid, and long-term security arrangements for Gaza’s population.
The developments come as mediators prepare for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, with regional and international actors closely watching whether negotiations can prevent further escalation. Aid agencies warn that worsening weather conditions, combined with ongoing military strikes, could push Gaza’s already strained humanitarian system toward collapse.
As winter deepens and violence persists, the situation remains highly volatile, with civilians bearing the brunt of both natural and man-made disasters.
