A damaged apartment building collapsed in Gaza City overnight, killing at least 20 Palestinians, including six children, according to local civil defence officials. Rescue crews are searching through the wreckage for survivors, with nearly 100 people believed to remain trapped beneath the rubble.
The disaster highlights the continuing danger faced by families living in buildings damaged during the conflict. It also adds to the humanitarian emergency in Gaza, where rescue teams say limited access to heavy machinery is making recovery operations exceptionally difficult.
Children among those killed in Gaza building collapse
Gaza civil defence officials said the seven-storey building collapsed after sustaining damage in previous Israeli air strikes. Fourteen people were reported injured, while at least 20 others were killed. Officials said six of those who died were children.
Raed Al-Dahshan, director of Gaza City’s civil defence service, said at least 10 families had been living in the building. Rescue workers reportedly continued to hear voices beneath the rubble, raising hopes that some residents could still be found alive.
Images from the scene showed civil defence crews carrying bodies and searching through heavily damaged concrete. The operation has been slowed by a shortage of suitable equipment, forcing some rescuers to dig by hand.
Rescue operation hampered by lack of machinery
Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Programme’s Gaza office, said UN agencies were supporting rescue efforts alongside Egypt’s relief agency. He described conditions at the site as tragic, warning that rescuers lacked the machinery needed to safely and quickly clear the debris.
Mrakic said approximately 400 buildings were at risk of collapse. The danger could increase during the winter months, when rain may weaken already unstable structures.
Palestinian and UN officials have blamed restrictions on the movement of heavy machinery into Gaza for the shortage of equipment. Israel says restrictions are intended to prevent machinery from reaching militant groups.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said the collapse demonstrated the severe risks faced by families seeking shelter in damaged buildings.
“No one should have to risk their life simply to find a safe place to shelter,” Alakbarov said.
Thousands living in damaged buildings
Gaza’s civil defence service estimates that around 2,000 damaged buildings remain occupied by families. Many residents have reportedly moved into partially destroyed structures because they lack secure alternatives, including adequate tents and weather-resistant shelter.
The United Nations estimates that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has generated about 61 million tonnes of wreckage and debris. Clearing the material could take years, creating long-term risks for residents and rescue workers.
Authorities have warned people to avoid damaged buildings, but displacement and the shortage of safe housing have left many families with few practical choices. Wind and rainstorms may further increase the threat of structural failures.
Ceasefire remains fragile
An October 2025 US-backed ceasefire halted large-scale fighting, but strikes have continued and negotiations on a lasting political settlement have made limited progress.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and obstructing efforts to implement a broader US-backed plan involving an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the agreement.
According to Gaza health officials, more than 1,300 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since the ceasefire began. The Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have died during the same period. Hamas does not generally publish separate figures for fighters killed.
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What happens next?
Rescue teams are expected to continue searching the collapsed building for missing residents. The immediate priority is to locate survivors, recover victims and secure the surrounding area against further collapse.
The wider crisis will depend on whether damaged buildings can be assessed, reinforced or evacuated, and whether humanitarian agencies gain access to the machinery and materials required for emergency shelter and debris removal.
Key takeaway: The Gaza building collapse has killed at least 20 people, including children, while exposing the urgent dangers facing families living in damaged structures and the severe limits placed on rescue operations.
Image Courtesy: AP
