20 reported dead, dozens missing after damaged Gaza City building collapses

On Wednesday, Gaza authorities reported that an apartment building collapse in Gaza City had claimed at least 20 lives, including five children, and left dozens of people trapped under the rubble. The six-story structure, located in the Tal al-Hawa area, had four apartments per floor and crumbled overnight onto neighboring homes and tents. The incident underscores the risks faced by thousands of Palestinians residing in approximately 2,000 damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes.

Mohannad Al-Mashharawi, who was attempting to retrieve personal belongings for a friend, recounted the distressing scene, stating, "My friend and neighbors live in this building. I came to help my friend retrieve some clothes and mattresses. He currently has no shelter or home." Civil defense agency spokesman Mahmoud Basal confirmed that the building had suffered structural damage from earlier Israeli strikes.

He reported that "20 martyrs" had been recovered, with many more still buried under the debris, due to limited equipment and basic tools provided by Israel, which restricts the access of necessary heavy machinery to the Gaza Strip.

Basal emphasized that the rescue efforts were ongoing but hindered by Israel's impediments. He noted that nearly 100 individuals remained trapped, while a UN Development Programme official, Alessandro Mrakic, highlighted the difficulty of rescue operations due to the lack of proper machinery. Egypt's relief agency was also participating in the rescue efforts. Mrakic warned that there are approximately 400 buildings at risk of collapse, especially with the approaching winter.

Palestinian and UN officials attribute the scarcity of heavy machinery to Israel's restrictions on Gaza. The aftermath of Israel's latest assault on Gaza, initiated after Hamas' October 2023 raid, has resulted in around 61 million tons of wreckage and debris, which could take seven years to clear, according to the United Nations.

Civil defense chief Raed Al-Dahshan urged residents to avoid damaged buildings due to the imminent risk of further collapses. Many families have resorted to living in partially damaged structures to safeguard against environmental hazards and the shortage of new tents for homeless residents. Since the October 2025 US-backed ceasefire, ongoing Israeli strikes have continued, and progress towards permanent peace remains elusive, with Hamas accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and Israel contending that Hamas is breaching the agreement.

As of the ceasefire, over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed, while the Israeli military reports four soldiers have perished.