Gaza Tent Fire Claims Grandmother and Grandson as Winter Conditions Worsen; Jolie Visits Rafah Crossing

A devastating tent fire in Gaza claimed the lives of a grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson, highlighting the harsh winter conditions faced by thousands of Palestinians in makeshift housing. The fire occurred while the grandmother was cooking in their nylon tent in Yarmouk, a neighbor reported. The fragile 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza, but Palestinians continue to face danger, especially along the Yellow Line that separates areas under Israeli control. Meanwhile, American actress Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the region. Jolie met with members of the Red Crescent and visited a hospital in the nearby city of Arish, where she spoke with Palestinian patients. Jolie's visit aimed to draw attention to the dire situation in Gaza, where cold winter rains have caused flooding, made roads impassable, and damaged buildings. Aid groups have expressed concern that not enough shelter materials are entering Gaza during the truce. According to Israel's military, it has not met the ceasefire stipulation of allowing 600 trucks of aid into Gaza daily, despite claims that Hamas is diverting aid supplies. The World Food Program has reported improvements in food security in Gaza since the ceasefire. Palestinians have long called for mobile homes and caravans to be allowed into Gaza to protect them from the harsh conditions. Jolie emphasized the need for sustained access to aid, fuel, and medical supplies to alleviate the crisis. The reopening of the Rafah crossing, which would allow Palestinians to leave Gaza, has been a contentious issue. Israel has conditioned the reopening on the return of hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack, while Egypt wants the crossing to be opened in both directions. The Palestinian death toll from the war has reached at least 71,271, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The situation in Gaza has been compounded by the continued lack of humanitarian access and acute shortages of essential supplies. In the occupied West Bank, Israel continues to operate, with numerous raids and arrests reported. The Palestinian Prisoners media office said that nearly 50 people were detained, while Israel's military claimed that those arrested were involved in terrorist activity. The Palestinian Prisoner's Society has reported that Israel has arrested over 7,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem this year, and 21,000 since the war began. The number of arrests from Gaza is not publicly disclosed by Israel.