Fourth Palestinian baby freezes to death in Gaza amid winter crisis

A Palestinian mother mourns her baby daughter Rahaf Abu Jazar, who died of cold in a tent camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza on Dec 11 2025_11zon

A two-month-old Palestinian baby has died from severe cold in Gaza, becoming the fourth child to freeze to death since November, health officials said on Sunday.

Zaher al-Wahidi, director of health information at Gaza’s Health Ministry, said the infant, Mohammed Abu Harbid, died of hypothermia at al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital.

His death brings the number of babies who have frozen to death in Gaza since November 2025 to four, and 12 since the war began in October 2023, according to local health officials.

As winter storms, heavy rain and freezing winds hit the coastal enclave, thousands of displaced families are living in tents and makeshift shelters with little protection from the cold. Many homes have been destroyed, leaving families without proper shelter, heating or electricity.

Hospitals are also struggling to keep premature babies alive. Medical staff at al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp said incubators often stop working due to frequent power cuts and lack of backup batteries.

Doctors said many premature babies are now suffering from hypothermia, while shortages of medicine and baby formula have made the situation worse.

Displaced families living in flooded tent camps said water enters their shelters during storms and children are falling sick from cold and damp conditions.

Aid agencies and human rights groups have warned of a growing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, calling for urgent delivery of winter supplies, tents and medical support to protect vulnerable children.

With inputs from ALJAZEERA- UNB