A baby froze to death overnight in Gaza as Israel and Hamas trade accusations of ceasefire delays

JERUSALEM (AP) — A baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, while Israel and Hamas accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts that could wind down the 14-month war.

The 3-week old baby was the third to die from the cold in Gaza's tent camps in recent days, doctors said, deaths that underscore the squalid conditions, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crammed into often ramshackle tents after fleeing Israeli offensives.

Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count.

The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into tent camps along the coast as the cold, wet winter sets in. Aid groups have struggled to deliver food and supplies and say there are shortages of blankets, warm clothing and firewood.

Israel has increased the amount of aid it allows into the territory, reaching an average of 130 trucks a day so far this month, up from around 70 a day in October and November. Still, the amount remains well below than previous months and the United Nations says it is unable to distribute more than half the aid because Israeli forces deny permission to move within Gaza or because of rampant lawlessness and theft from trucks.

The father of 3-week-old Sila, Mahmoud al-Faseeh, wrapped her in a blanket to try and keep her warm in their tent in the Muwasi area outside the town of Khan Younis, but it wasn't enough, he told The Associated Press.

He said the tent was not sealed from the wind and the ground was cold, as temperatures on Tuesday night dropped to 9 degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit.) Muwasi is a desolate area of dunes and farmland on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.

“It was very cold overnight and as adults we couldn’t even take it. We couldn’t stay warm,” he said. Sila woke up crying three times overnight and in the morning they found her unresponsive, her body stiff.

“She was like wood,” said al-Faseeh. They rushed her to a field hospital where doctors tried to revive her, but her lungs had already deteriorated. Images of Sila taken by the AP showed the little girl with purple lips, her pale skin blotchy.

Ahmed al-Farra, director of the children’s ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed that the baby died of hypothermia. He said two other babies — one 3 days old, the other a month old — had been brought to the hospital over the past 48 hours after dying of hypothermia.

Meanwhile, hopes for a ceasefire looked complicated Wednesday, with Israel and the militant Hamas group that runs Gaza trading accusations of delaying an agreement. In recent weeks, the two sides appeared to be inching toward a deal that would bring home dozens of hostages held by the militants in Gaza, but differences have emerged.

Although Israel and Hamas have expressed optimism that progress was being made toward a deal, sticking points remain over the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, people involved in the talks say.

On Wednesday, Hamas accused Israel of introducing new conditions related to the withdrawal from Gaza, the prisoners and the return of displaced people, which it said was delaying the deal.

Israel's government accused Hamas of reneging on understandings that have already been reached.” Still, both sides said discussions are ongoing.

Israel’s negotiating team, which includes members from its intelligence agencies and the military, returned from Qatar on Tuesday evening for internal consultations, following a week of what it called “significant negotiations."

During its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, Hamas and other groups took about 250 people hostages and brought them to Gaza. A previous truce in November 2023 freed more than 100 hostages, while others have been rescued or their remains have been recovered over the past year.

Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Gaza — at least a third whom it believes were killed during the Oct. 7 attack or died in captivity.

Sporadic talks have taken place for a year, but in recent weeks there's been a renewed push to reach a deal.

President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month for his second term, has demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages, saying on social media that if they're not freed before he is sworn in, there will be “HELL TO PAY.”

Families of the hostages are becoming increasingly angry, calling on the Israeli government for a ceasefire before Trump is sworn in.

After Israel’s high-level negotiation team returned from Doha this week, hostage families called an emergency press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, pleading for a ceasefire and a complete end to the war.

Shir Siegel, the daughter of Israeli-American Keith Siegel, whose mother was released after more than 50 days in captivity, said every delay could endanger their lives. “There are moments when every second is fateful, and this is one of those moments,” she said.

Families of the hostages marked the first night of Hannukah with a candle lighting ceremony in Tel Aviv as well as by the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

The agreement would take effect in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza, according to Egyptian, Hamas and American officials. The last phase would include the release of any remaining hostages, an end to the war and talks on reconstruction.

Also Wednesday, a missile launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels triggered air raid sirens across central Israel, sending residents fleeing to shelters. The Houthis said they operations were aimed at Israeli targets in the cities of Jaffa and Ashkelon.

It was the fourth time in a week that fire from the Yemeni rebels set off sirens in Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will strike anyone threatening lives in Israel and warned the Houthis that they would learn lessons that Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria's ousted President Bashar Assad have learned.

Israel also requested an emergency meeting by the U.N. Security Council to address the recent attacks. The meeting is set for Monday.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said he expects the council to condemn the Houthi attacks and called on it "to enforce international law and hold Iran, the Houthis’ patron, accountable.”

Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Khaled from Cairo. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Lee Keith in Cairo and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

An explosive devise planted by Palestinian militants explodes after being detonated by Israeli soldiers during a military raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Members of Israeli forces patrol a street during a military operation in the Tulkarem refugee camp near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Relatives of Palestinian Imran Haroun, touch his body at the hospital morgue after he was killed during a military operation in the Tulkarem refugee camp near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

A youth looks at the bodies of Palestinians at the hospital morgue after they were killed during a military operation in the Tulkarem refugee camp near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Palestinians react next to the bodies of their relatives who were killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

A man sits by the body of a Palestinian killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on a home in Deir al-Balah late Saturday are prepared for the funeral outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians look at home destroyed by an Israeli strike late Saturday in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Relatives and neighbors, two of them holding guns, walk during the funeral procession of a victim of an Israeli strike on a home late Saturday that killed at least eight people, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. Some families in Gaza are armed to protect their homes from thieves in the camps.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Neighbours watch the funeral procession of the victims of an Israeli strike on a home late Saturday, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Relatives and neighbours mourn over the body of one of the victims of an Israeli strike on a hom4 late Saturday as they are prepared for the funeral outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians look at home destroyed by an Israeli strike late Saturday in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians pray over the bodies of the victims of an Israeli strike on a home late Saturday before the funeral outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. Find the AP’s top photos of the day in Today’s Photo Collection. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan in AP Newsroom.

———————————————-—-

NEW AND DEVELOPING

—————————————————

FILM-BLAKE LIVELY-JUSTIN BALDONI; DEAD BODY-AIRPLANE-HAWAII; KOSOVO-ELECTION-SERBS; FINLAND-ESTONIA CABLE;

———————————

TOP STORIES

———————————

WORLD-CHRISTMAS — Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday urged “all people of all nations” to find courage during this Holy Year “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions” plaguing the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, Africa to Asia. The pontiff’s “Urbi et Orbi” — “To the City and the World” — address serves as a summary of the woes facing the world this year. As Christmas coincided with the start of the 2025 Holy Year celebration that he dedicated to hope, Francis called for broad reconciliation, “even (with) our enemies.” By Silvia Stellacci and Colleen Barry. SENT: 1,260 words, photos, videos.

AZERBAIJAN-AIRLINER-CRASH — An Azerbaijani airliner with 67 people onboard crashed Wednesday near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau, killing 38 people and leaving 29 survivors, a Kazakh official said. The Embraer 190 was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus when it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, Azerbaijan Airlines said. Speaking at a news conference, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but said that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course. By Katie Marie Davies and Dasha Litvinova. SENT: 690 words, photos, video, audio.

MIDEAST WARS — A baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, while Israel and Hamas accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts that could wind down the 14-month war. The 3-week old baby was the third to die from the cold in Gaza’s tent camps in recent days, said doctors. Meanwhile hopes of a ceasefire looked complicated Wednesday with Israel and Hamas trading accusations of delaying an agreement. In recent weeks, the two sides appeared to be inching toward a deal that would bring home dozens of hostages being held in Gaza, but differences have emerged. By Sam Mednick, Tia Goldenberg and Fatma Khaled. SENT: 1,100 words, photos, videos. Also SENT: MIDEAST WARS-SYRIA — Clashes between Islamists who took over Syria and supporters of ousted President Bashar Assad’s government have killed six Islamic fighters and wounded others.

PALESTINIANS-WEST-BANK-RAID-EXPLAINER — Palestinian Authority forces are clashing with armed groups in the occupied West Bank in a rare crackdown aimed at restoring order in a militant stronghold. The deadly violence is some of the worst internal fighting Palestinians have seen in years. The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority says it wants to bring security to a restive built-up refugee camp. But many Palestinians see it as a subcontractor for Israel. By Majdi Mohammed and Tia Goldenberg. SENT: 940 words, photos.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR — Ukrainian officials say Russia launched a massive missile barrage targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and over 100 attack drones were used to strike Ukraine’s power sources. The energy minister said power operators were taking the necessary measures to limit consumption after the Christmas Day attack. By Illia Novikov. SENT: 520 words, photo.

PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN-STRIKES — A Taliban government official says Pakistan’s airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan government, said Wednesday that six people were also wounded in the Paktika province bordering Pakistan. This comes a day after Pakistani security officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations, told The Associated Press that Tuesday’s operation was to dismantle a training facility and kill insurgents in the province of Paktika in Afghanistan. By Riaz Khan and Munir Ahmed. SENT: 560 words, locator map.

BRITAIN-ROYALS-CHRISTMAS-MESSAGE — King Charles III used his annual Christmas message Wednesday to hail the selflessness of those who have cared for him and the Princess of Wales this year, after both were diagnosed with cancer. The broadcast came several hours after the monarch waved to a large crowd of onlookers who traditionally gather to see the royal family attend Christmas Day services at a church on Sandringham, the estate on the windswept North Sea coast that has served as a family retreat for generations. By Pan Pylas and Danica Kirka. SENT: 990 words, photos, video, audio.

FILM-BLAKE LIVELY-JUSTIN BALDONI — Blake Lively’s claims that “It Ends With Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni unleashed a smear campaign against her have gained support from a new lawsuit that Baldoni’s former publicist filed against him. The lawsuit was lodged Tuesday in New York state court in Manhattan by Stephanie Jones, who began representing Baldoni in 2017. It said the actor and his movie production company, Wayfarer, expanded their contract in 2020, agreeing to pay a $25,000 monthly fee. Jones sought unspecified damages from the defendants, including Jennifer Abel, a former employee who she says carried out the campaign to damage Lively and muddy the reputation of Jones. SENT: 590 words, photos.

————————————————————

SPOTLIGHTING VOICES

————————————————————

TURKEY-CHILDHOOD-POVERTY — One-third of Turkey’s children live in poverty, with many forced to work to support their struggling families. Persistently high inflation, exacerbated by economic policies and currency depreciation, has left families unable to afford basic needs such as rent, food and an education. Experts warn of a lost generation as children drop out of school or enter low-wage vocational programs. By Robert Badendieck. SENT: 1,190 words, photos, video.

—————————————

MIDEAST WARS

—————————————

MIDEAST-WARS-ISRAEL-FALLEN-SOLDIER — An Israeli soldier who died more than 400 days after being wounded in the attack that sparked the war in Gaza now symbolizes the sacrifice of fallen fighters. Yona Brief was a combat medic when his unit was ordered to join the fight against insurgents on Oct. 7, 2023. He was shot 13 times but dragged himself and a fellow soldier to safety. SENT: 700 words, photos, video.

MIDEAST-WARS-ISRAEL-YEMEN — A missile launched from Yemen triggered air raid sirens across central Israel sending millions of residents looking for cover for the second night in a row. The military said the missile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory. SENT: 160 words.

——————————

MORE NEWS

——————————

CENSUS-RACE-ETHNICITY — As the U.S. Census Bureau gets public feedback about how it should tally people into new race and ethnicity groups, the agency has released new research reflecting how U.S. residents from different backgrounds regard their racial and ethnic identities. SENT 660 words, photos.

DEAD BODY-AIRPLANE-HAWAII — Maui police are investigating the discovery of a dead body in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane after it landed in Maui, the airline and police department said in statements on Wednesday. SENT: 170 words, photo.

FINLAND-ESTONIA CABLE — Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation. SENT: 200 words, photo.

RESCUED OWLS — Snowy owl rescued from car grille by Minnesota woman who saved another bird hours earlier. SENT: 440 words, photos.

——————————————————

WASHINGTON/POLITICS

——————————————————

TRUMP-SENATE — The fate of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet is still unclear after Republican senators spent much of December carefully dodging questions about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on vaccines, accusations of sexual misconduct against Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard’s 2017 meeting with then-President Bashar Assad of Syria. While some GOP senators have indicated they are all-in for Trump’s picks, others have withheld support. The dynamic is injecting uncertainty into the process as Republicans prepare to take the Senate majority in January with a four-seat margin. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

————————

NATIONAL

————————

TRUMP SHOOTING ATTEMPT — A man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida won’t be tried until September 2025, a federal judge ruled this week. Ryan Routh’s trial will begin Sept. 8 instead of the previously scheduled Feb. 10, 2025 start date, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said in an order released on Monday. Routh, 58, a Hawaii resident, has pleaded not guilty. Routh’s attorneys had asked the judge to delay the trial until no earlier than next December, saying they needed more time to review the evidence against him and decide whether to mount an insanity defense. SENT: 410 words, photos.

MEGA MILLIONS — Hang onto those stocking-stuffer lottery tickets. The Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed $1 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Christmas Eve. That means the estimated jackpot for Friday’s drawing is $1.15 billion, potentially the fifth-largest jackpot in the game’s history. SENT: 230 words, photo, video, audio.

————————————

INTERNATIONAL

————————————

SURINAME-OBIT-BOUTERSE — Desi Bouterse, a military strongman who led a 1980 coup in the former Dutch colony of Suriname then returned to power by election three decades later despite charges of drug smuggling and murder, has died. He was 79. SENT: 1,360 words, photo.

KOSOVO-ELECTION-SERBS — Kosovo’s election appeals authority on Wednesday cancelled a ban on the main party of the ethnic Serb minority, allowing it to field candidates in the upcoming parliamentary election. SENT: 270 words.

CHINA-JAPAN — Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has met with top Chinese leaders during his visit to Beijing, the first since the heads of the two countries met at a summit in Peru last month. The two neighbors have had a tense relationship in recent years. SENT: 570 words, photos.

JAPAN ENERGY — A government-commissioned panel of experts on Wednesday largely supported Japan’s new energy policy for the next few years that calls for bolstering renewables up to half of electricity needs by 2040 while maximizing the use of nuclear power as the country seeks to accommodate the growing power demand in the era of AI while meeting decarbonization targets. SENT: 480 words, photo.

————————

SPORTS

————————

FBN-NFL-NETFLIX DEBUT — Netflix’s NFL debut kicked off on Christmas Day without a glitch. Netflix agreed to a three-year contract in May to broadcast Christmas Day games. The streaming giant is expecting one of its biggest days since the site launched in 1998. Netflix’s 282.3 million subscribers in more than 190 countries can stream the games, marking the first time one outlet has distributed an NFL game globally. SENT 300 words.

——————————————

HOW TO REACH US

——————————————

The Nerve Center can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1600. For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636 Expanded AP content can be obtained from AP Newsroom. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006.

A statue of the Saint Charbel stands on the top of a cliff in Maaloula, a village where Aramaic is still spoken, located some 60 km northern Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Military chaplain Yurii of the 24th Mechanized Brigade holds a church service for an infantry unit during Christmas near the frontline town of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Swiss Guards march in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis waves before delivering the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Fireworks burst over Saydnaya Convent during the lighting of the Christmas tree, in Saydnaya town on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Zane Castello, 6, whispers his Christmas wish to Santa Claus during the Winter Day Camp holiday party at the Greater Johnstown Community YMCA in Johnstown, Pa. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (Thomas Slusser/The Tribune-Democrat via AP)

People celebrate Christmas Day at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)

The wife of a journalist, who was shot during an armed gang attack on the General Hospital, cries as an ambulance arrives with his body, at a different hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

An explosive devise planted by Palestinian militants explodes after being detonated by Israeli soldiers during a military raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Pope Francis presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, after opening the basilica's holy door marking the start of the Catholic jubilar year 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A worshipper prays in the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas day, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Murals cover Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

In this photo taken from a video released by the administration of Mangystau region, the wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lies on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (The Administration of Mangystau Region via AP)