Fri Jan 02 23:12:31 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The article details the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as of January 2, 2026, focusing on the harsh winter conditions impacting displaced Palestinians and the limited aid reaching them despite a shaky ceasefire. A tragic incident where a grandmother and grandson died in a tent fire highlights the dangers of makeshift housing. While the ceasefire has reduced large-scale bombings, Palestinians are still being killed by Israeli forces. Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border to advocate for increased aid and a sustained ceasefire. The article also touches upon the disagreements between Israel and Egypt regarding opening the Rafah crossing and the ongoing arrests of Palestinians in the West Bank.
News Article:
Gaza Grapples with Winter Misery as Aid Stalls; Angelina Jolie Visits Rafah
Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip – January 3, 2026 – A fragile ceasefire in Gaza offers little respite to thousands of Palestinians facing dire winter conditions, compounded by insufficient aid and ongoing clashes. A tragic incident on Thursday night saw a grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson perish in a tent fire in Yarmouk, highlighting the dangerous living conditions in makeshift camps. Two Palestinian men were killed by Israeli gunfire on Friday in Gaza.
The ceasefire, in place for twelve weeks, has significantly reduced large-scale Israeli bombardment. However, Palestinians continue to be killed by Israeli forces, particularly near the “Yellow Line.”
Adding to the crisis, cold winter rains have repeatedly flooded tent cities, causing buildings to collapse and turning roads to mud. Aid organizations report that the flow of crucial shelter materials into Gaza remains inadequate. While Israel claims to be meeting the ceasefire stipulation of 600 aid trucks per day, figures suggest otherwise, sparking continued debate. Israel maintains that Hamas is diverting aid, a claim disputed by humanitarian organizations.
Amidst the worsening situation, actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing on Friday, advocating for increased aid and a lasting ceasefire. She met with Red Crescent representatives in Egypt and visited a hospital in Arish, speaking with Palestinian patients.
“What needs to happen is clear: the ceasefire must hold, and access must be sustained, safe and urgently scaled up so that aid, fuel and critical medical supplies can move quickly and consistently, at the volume required,” Jolie stated.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing remains a point of contention. While Egypt demands immediate two-way access, Israel insists on restrictions until the remaining hostages taken in the October 7, 2023, attack are returned and requires Israeli and Egyptian security approval for Palestinian departures.
The foreign ministers of Arab and Muslim countries have expressed deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, citing insufficient aid and shortages of essential supplies.
The Palestinian death toll since the October 7th attack has surpassed 71,271, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Meanwhile, Israeli operations continue in the West Bank, with reports of numerous arrests and raids across the territory. According to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, Israel has arrested 7,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem this year, and 21,000 since the war began.
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