JERUSALEM — A 3-week-old baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, highlighting the harsh conditions in the area as Israel and Hamas traded accusations over delays in reaching a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 14-month war.
The baby, identified as Sila, was the third to die from hypothermia in Gaza’s overcrowded tent camps in recent days.
Doctors confirmed her cause of death, marking another tragic consequence of the cold and inadequate living conditions for the displaced.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported over 45,000 Palestinian casualties since Israel’s bombardment began, with many of the victims being women and children.
The ongoing conflict has led to widespread devastation, displacing nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Hundreds of thousands have sought shelter in temporary camps along the coast as winter’s cold sets in.
Aid organizations are struggling to meet their basic needs, with shortages of blankets, clothing, and firewood.
The situation has also led to complications in the negotiations for a ceasefire.
Despite talks between Israel and Hamas about a possible deal to bring hostages home and end the violence, both sides accuse each other of causing delays, particularly over the terms of the agreement.
Meanwhile, a missile attack launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted Israel on Wednesday, prompting air raid sirens in central Israel and forcing residents into shelters.
The Houthis, supported by Iran, stated their attacks were aimed at Israeli targets in Jaffa and Ashkelon, marking the fourth such strike in a week.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the country would retaliate against any threat to its people, while Israel’s U.N. ambassador called for an emergency meeting to address the growing threats, urging international accountability for Iran’s role in supporting the Houthis.