The collapse of a war-damaged building in Gaza in the early hours of Wednesday claimed at least 20 lives. Among the victims were six children, and more than 14 others were injured. Additionally, dozens of people were trapped under the rubble.
Search for Victims
Rescue teams are still searching through the rubble, and many of them are doing so by hand due to a lack of heavy machinery. Raed Al-Dahshan, the director of civil defense services in Gaza City, stated that they can hear voices from beneath the rubble and expressed hope that more survivors would be found. He added that at least 10 families lived in the collapsed building.
Risks from Gaza's Building Conditions
As the rainy and winter season approaches, Alessandro Merckx, head of the UN Development Program office in Gaza, warned that rain could lead to the collapse of hundreds of other damaged buildings. He stated that about 400 buildings in the area are at risk of collapsing, and rescue operations are being hampered by a lack of equipment.
According to reports, around 2000 damaged buildings in Gaza are still inhabited by Palestinian families. Many of these families have told the media that this is the only way to shelter from the wind and rain, as there are not enough tents available.
Ramiz Alaqbarov, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied territories, emphasized the need for safer options, stating that this disaster poses serious risks for families living in these buildings. He said, "No one should risk their life to find a safe place to shelter."
Palestinian officials and the UN have pointed to Israel's restrictions on Gaza for the lack of heavy machinery in the area. Israel claims that its aim is to prevent armed groups from accessing this equipment, which has been used in deadly attacks on Israel in October 2023. These attacks led to the onset of devastating Israeli strikes on Gaza that have claimed the lives of over 73,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
Since the US-backed ceasefire in October 2025, over 1300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have lost their lives in Gaza. In contrast, the Israeli army has reported that four of their soldiers have also been killed.
