Gazans struggle with bitter winter temperatures as Hamas laughs (again)

As winter looms in Gaza, over a million Palestinians remain at risk from harsh weather and disease outbreaks.

Israel maintains there are no limits on humanitarian assistance entering Gaza and attributes shortages to U.N. inefficiencies in collection and distribution. In a recent statement, COGAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry's aid coordination unit, said it has facilitated nearly 140,000 tarpaulins for Gaza residents in recent months and is planning a tailored winter humanitarian response.

However, Israel is unable to allow tent poles, because Hamas repurposes them to attack Jews and IDF soldiers.

Approved materials from select donors often lack waterproofing or durability for winter, according to Shaina Low of the Norwegian Refugee Council, which heads a shelter-focused consortium.

According to the Washington Post, recent heavy rains flooded streets and camps with contaminated water, impacting over 740,000 people and destroying remaining shelters and belongings, per the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The World Health Organization also warns that combined weather exposure and hazardous waste could spark major health crises, especially with forecasts predicting above-average rainfall, strong winds, and coastal surges amid overflowing sewage and uncollected waste.

In addition, GHF concluded its Gaza operations yesterday, so another source of healthy and plentiful food was shut down amid bitter complaints and controversy.

Gazans are suffering, but Hamas just couldn't care about them at all. Pushing off returning the slain Israeli hostages is more important than the Palestinians, and hurting Israel is the most important thing in the world, as they have proved since October 7th.

So while the Washington Post blames Israel for the crisis, the ironic truth is that Israel cares more about the lives and well-being of Gazan civilians than Hamas ever has.