The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, has sharply condemned Israel for treating Palestinian lives in Gaza as “expendable,” highlighting the deadly consequences of a severe winter storm that has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic on Tuesday, Albanese described the storm as a stark revelation of the impact of Israel’s deliberate destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, which has left residents highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Deadly Winter Storm Hits Gaza
The storm, which brought polar winds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour (60 miles per hour) and torrential rain, has destroyed tents and temporary shelters in refugee camps across Gaza, killing at least seven children, according to humanitarian sources.
“It is shocking even for me sitting far away. … Their lives seem like hell,” Albanese said, reacting to accounts of families trapped in mud and darkness after their makeshift shelters collapsed.
Reports indicate that damaged buildings and shelters collapsed under the weight of heavy rainfall, leaving residents to search for relatives buried under rubble. The disaster has compounded the already dire conditions caused by years of blockade and conflict.
A “Man-Made” Vulnerability
While the storm itself is a natural event, humanitarian officials argue that its lethality is politically amplified.
James Elder, a UNICEF spokesperson in Gaza City, emphasized that the children who died were already weakened by extreme shortages of food, medicine, and heating supplies, creating a “man-made shortage” that left them defenseless against the storm.
“Children aged two or three have severely weakened immune systems,” Elder said, describing the humanitarian situation as “extreme misery.”
“Israel continues to block the entry of cooking gas and fuel needed for heating, leaving families exposed to winds of hurricane strength.”
Israel’s Response Criticized
Albanese did not mince words regarding the lack of humanitarian response and Israel’s repeated cuts in cooperation with UN agencies during crises:
“Israel generally does not care about Palestinian lives. On the contrary, it finds them expendable and believes they can be destroyed,” she said.
She also condemned the international community for failing to take action while Gaza’s population remains exposed to deadly conditions, likening the situation to ongoing genocide and collective punishment.
“What more do we need to see? What have we not seen yet?” Albanese asked.
Call for Punitive Measures
According to Albanese, humanitarian aid alone is insufficient to protect Palestinians. She called for strong punitive measures against Israel, including:
- Cutting trade ties
- Imposing an arms embargo
- Halting normal diplomatic and commercial dealings
“The starting point must be the International Court of Justice advisory opinion ordering the dismantling of the occupation,” she said, rejecting political plans that ignore the dire realities on the ground.
Gaza’s Infrastructure in Crisis
The severity of the storm was compounded by Gaza’s damaged infrastructure. Khaled Saleh, a senior Al Jazeera weather presenter, described the winds as equivalent to a tropical storm, which easily uprooted trees and destroyed worn-out tents.
“With no proper drainage or solid buildings, the water had nowhere to go but into the shelters of displaced Palestinians,” Saleh said.
This combination of extreme weather, damaged infrastructure, and restricted access to aid has left Gaza’s population acutely exposed and highly vulnerable.
Humanitarian Implications
The storm underscores the chronic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, worsened by long-term blockades, destroyed infrastructure, and repeated conflicts. Albanese’s comments highlight the urgent need for the international community to enforce accountability measures and ensure life-saving aid reaches civilians.
“Immediate action is required. These are lives that can be protected if the world acts decisively,” Albanese said.
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