The collapse of a building in Gaza in the early hours of Wednesday claimed 21 lives, six of whom were children. This incident also resulted in at least 14 others being injured and dozens trapped under the rubble. While rescue operations continue, rescuers are carrying out much of the work with bare hands due to a lack of heavy equipment.
Critical Situation in Gaza
Raed al-Dahshan, the director of civil defense services in Gaza City, announced that sounds are still being heard from beneath the rubble and hopes that more survivors will be found. He added that at least 10 families lived in the collapsed building. One resident named Mohannad al-Mashhawi said, "My friends and neighbors lived in this building, and I came to help him get some clothes and a mattress out. He is currently without shelter or a home."
Increased Risks as Rainy Season Approaches
The number of victims is expected to rise as the search for victims under the rubble continues. Alessandro Merckx, head of the United Nations Development Program office in Gaza, described the situation as critical and pointed to a lack of equipment and machinery. He said, "The situation, as you see, is catastrophic because we do not have the necessary equipment and machinery. In fact, people are digging with bare hands."
As the rainy and winter season approaches, Merckx warned that rainwater could destabilize hundreds of other buildings in this war-torn land. He noted, "Almost 400 buildings are at risk of collapse, and we know that these buildings will collapse, especially with the approach of winter."
According to reports, around 2000 damaged buildings in Gaza are still inhabited by Palestinian families, many of whom have told Reuters that this is the only way to shelter from the wind and rain in the absence of sufficient tents.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territories, said, "Today's disaster highlights the serious risks that families in these buildings face and emphasizes the urgent need for safer alternatives. No one should have to risk their life to find a safe place to shelter."
Palestinian officials and UN representatives attribute the lack of heavy equipment in the area to Israel's restrictions on Gaza. Israel has stated that it wants to prevent these machines from falling into the hands of armed groups like Hamas, which used this equipment in their deadly attack on Israel in October 2023. This attack led to a devastating Israeli invasion of Gaza that has so far claimed the lives of over 73,000 Palestinians, most of whom are civilians.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025, over 1300 Palestinians, most of whom are also civilians, have lost their lives in Gaza, while the Israeli army has reported that four of its soldiers have also been killed.
