Eighth infant dies from hypothermia amid Israeli genocide in Gaza
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The infant's grieving mother describes the unbearable conditions her family faces, borrowing bedding and blankets from other displaced families who are themselves struggling to keep their children warm.
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Imam Islam Abu Suaied prays over the bodies of two babies before their burial at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024.
An infant has died from hypothermia in the besieged Gaza Strip where the Israeli occupation pursues its genocidal campaign against Palestinians.
In a heart-wrenching video shared by a Palestinian journalist on social media, the grieving mother, overcome with tears, described finding her child frozen, saying, "It was as if he had been placed in a freezer."
The death of Ali Youssef Ahmed Kloub marks the eighth infant to succumb to hypothermia in the besieged Gaza Strip this winter. Ali, whose family was living in a makeshift tent on a beach, died as displaced Palestinians continue to endure dire winter conditions, including freezing temperatures amid the absence of adequate shelter or resources.
Ali's grieving mother described the unbearable conditions her family faces, borrowing bedding and blankets from other displaced families who are themselves struggling to keep their children warm. Health officials reported that infants and children are particularly vulnerable, with several deaths already recorded this winter due to exposure to the extreme cold.
In a previous press release, Gaza's Media Office emphasized the dire situation facing forcibly displaced families, whose homes were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, leaving them vulnerable to the freezing winter conditions.
والدة الطفل علي يوسف احمد كلوب الذي قضى شهيدا نتيجة البرد القارس داخل خيمة تضم عددا من أفراد عائلته في مواصي خانيونس، تتحدث عن معاناتها وظروفها القاسية في ظل موجة البرد الشديد الذي لازم أفراد عائلتها التي تفتقر لأدنى مقومات الحياة ما اضطرها لاستعارة "الفراش والأغطية" من بعض… pic.twitter.com/H2QHP2hjS4
— 🇵🇸 أدهم أبو سلمية (@AdhamPal922) January 5, 2025
Thousands of Palestinians displaced by the occupation's genocidal campaign have sought refuge in Al-Mawasi, a coastal area west of Rafah, living in fragile tents made of cloth and nylon. Despite being designated a "humanitarian area" by Israeli authorities, Al-Mawasi has faced repeated attacks, leaving families with nowhere safe to turn.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), confirmed the worsening crisis, stating that babies "are freezing to death due to cold weather and a lack of shelter." He added that critical supplies, such as blankets and mattresses, have been stuck outside Gaza for months, awaiting clearance for entry.
Read more: 'Israel' blocking UNRWA operations jeopardizes social order in Gaza
As the humanitarian crisis escalates, Gaza health officials reported that the Israeli genocidal campaign since October 2023 has killed over 45,800 people, including 17,600 children. Of these, 1,091 infants have died, with 238 passing away shortly after birth. UNICEF has described the conditions for newborns in Gaza as a "living hell".
Ali Kloub's father, who has now lost two children to hypothermia this winter, was seen mourning at the hospital morgue. His tragic story adds to the broader suffering of Gaza's displaced population, as plunging temperatures and limited aid exacerbate an already devastating situation.
