Cold weather has become another lethal threat for families in Gaza, where children are dying in makeshift tents offering little protection from the elements. In the southern city of Khan Younis, the death of a young child has underscored how exposure and inadequate shelter are now claiming lives long after the genocidal war reduced neighbourhoods to rubble. With reconstruction still blocked, thousands remain stranded in temporary camps as temperatures drop.

Local officials say repeated appeals for emergency housing and basic protection have gone unanswered. After surviving months of destruction and displacement, families now face a different danger: nights without insulation, heating or secure walls. The absence of meaningful rebuilding has left children especially vulnerable, turning winter into a slow-moving killer rather than a season of relief.

Calls are growing for decisive international action to ease the humanitarian emergency before it escalates further. Pressure is being urged on influential global actors to ensure crossings are opened, aid flows freely and genuine shelter solutions are allowed to reach those in need. Without swift intervention, the toll from cold, exposure and neglect is expected to rise sharply across the enclave.