Nine-Month-Old Baby Dies of Hypothermia in Southern Gaza as Winter Aid Restrictions Continue
A nine-month-old Palestinian baby has died of hypothermia in a tent in southern Gaza, according to his father and a doctor. The death occurred overnight in Khan Younis, where displaced families are sheltering in makeshift conditions as temperatures fall. The infant, identified as Kinan Ahmed Raqiq, was taken to Nasser Hospital but was already dead on arrival, his father said.
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Ahmed Raqiq said he woke to find his son's skin had turned blue before rushing him to hospital. He said the child had frozen to death in the family's tent, describing the moment as one of shock and grief. A doctor who spoke anonymously said the baby died from hypothermia, and Gaza's Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal also confirmed the death after exposure to extreme cold.
The fatality comes as winter conditions intensify across Gaza and aid groups warn that many displaced people remain without adequate shelter. More than 50 countries and organisations have called for the immediate entry of critical supplies, including shelter materials, fuel, water, sanitation items and health goods. Their appeal said people in Gaza face risks from hypothermia, respiratory infections, waterborne disease and other preventable illnesses as the cold season begins.
The case also highlights the wider humanitarian strain in the enclave, where restrictions on winter supplies have drawn renewed criticism. Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said supplies have been allowed in, including 91,000 tents, and has blamed Hamas for the suffering of civilians. The dispute over access to aid has become part of a broader argument over responsibility for worsening living conditions in Gaza.
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The situation has been compounded by severe weather. Heavy rain this week caused flooding that affected tens of thousands of tents, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The agency said 26,000 households were affected by storms as of November 8.
The flooding followed other deadly incidents, including the deaths of five people, among them three children, when a sandy embankment collapsed onto tents. What remains unclear is how many other families are facing similar exposure in southern Gaza and whether additional winter supplies will be allowed in quickly enough to reduce the risk. The death of Kinan Ahmed Raqiq adds to pressure on parties involved in the aid dispute as winter deepens.
The immediate focus now is on whether shelter, fuel and medical supplies can reach displaced civilians before more preventable deaths occur.
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