Casualties reported after 'Al-Saada' building collapses in Gaza amid Israeli strikes

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — An unstable building housing approximately 100 individuals collapsed in Gaza City early Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 19 people, primarily women and children, and leaving 25 others injured. The structure, known to be precarious due to previous Israeli strikes, left rescuers sifting through debris in search of additional survivors.

The collapsed building was home to around 100 individuals, including 50 children, according to Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories. Living conditions in Gaza have worsened since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas stalled, with the population now confined to less than half of the territory and dependent on aid.

Many Palestinians have been forced to choose between crowded tent camps or damaged buildings. The collapse highlights the dire circumstances faced by Gaza's population, where at least six displaced families were living in the unsafe structure despite its known precarious state. Israel has stated it will not permit rebuilding until Hamas disarms.

The U.N. human rights chief expressed concern that the bodies recovered so far are merely a small fraction of those still missing. Since the ceasefire in October, Israel has carried out strikes, leading to the deaths of over 1,375 people, according to local health officials. The conflict has resulted in more than 73,789 Palestinian casualties, with women and children comprising roughly half of the fatalities.