Rains and low temperatures threaten Gaza displaced
Gaza’s media office has called on the world to respond “to save the catastrophic humanitarian reality” in Gaza as cold weather and rain bears down on the enclave.
The storm is set to hit on Wednesday and last until Friday, bringing with it heavy rains that will flood the tens of thousands of tents housing Gaza’s displaced. It is also set to bring heavy winds, fierce waves from the sea and thunderstorms, according to the office.
It said the weather “may cause extensive damage to tens of thousands of families living in tents and primitive shelters that do not protect them from the cold winter or the harshness of weather lows.”
Nearly all of Gaza’s population has been displaced by Israel’s genocidal war.
In a displacement camp by the sea, Palestinians brace for winter storm
‘Shockingly high’ number still acutely malnourished in Gaza: UNICEF
The UN children’s agency has said that 9,300 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition in Gaza in October, when the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel went into effect.
That was down from a peak of 14,000 in August, but still much higher than during a previous pause in fighting from February to March. The rate indicates that aid flows are insufficient, according to spokesperson Tess Ingram.
“It’s still a shockingly high number,” she said in Geneva. “The number of children admitted is five times higher than in February, so we need to see the numbers come down further,” she said.
She further described meeting underweight babies weighing less than one kilogram (2.2 pounds) born in hospitals, “their tiny chests heaving with the effort of staying alive”.
Israel says will re-open Jordan crossing for Gaza-bound trucks: Report
An anonymous Israeli official has told Reuters that the country will allow aid trucks to enter via the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge with Jordan. The crossing had been closed following a September attack by a truck driver that killed two Israeli soldiers.
The official said, starting tomorrow, “the transfer of goods and aid from Jordan to the area of Judea and Samaria and to the Gaza Strip will be permitted through the Allenby Crossing”.
“All aid trucks destined for the Gaza Strip will proceed under escort and security, following a thorough security inspection,” the official added.
Operations to recover body of last remaining captive ongoing in Gaza
We understand work is under way to recover the body of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, the last remaining captive in Gaza. Officials say finding his body is like looking for a needle in a haystack and this reflects the complexity of the operations to uncover the remains in the massive ocean of debris.
If the body is found, it will be sent to Israel via the ICRC and its handover will mark the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement and open the door for further negotiations.
We keep hearing from the US administration that the ceasefire will continue to hold, despite the main sticking points for a second phase still being unresolved.
Gaza government says Israel violated truce 738 times in 60 days
Israel has violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement at least 738 times since it came into effect in October, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
“This constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and a deliberate undermining of the essence of the ceasefire and the provisions of its attached humanitarian protocol,” it said in a statement.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, Israeli attacks since the start of the ceasefire have killed at least 377 people and wounded 987.
