War-damaged Gaza building collapses, killing at least 20 people

A building housing displaced Palestinian families in Gaza City collapsed on Wednesday, resulting in at least 20 deaths, with the majority being women and children, according to local health officials. The multi-story structure had been damaged during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and had raised safety concerns before its collapse.

The structure was occupied by about six displaced families at the time of the incident. At least 15 others were injured in the collapse, and the toll included eight children and six women, as reported by the Gaza Civil Defense rescue agency. The death count is expected to rise as more bodies are recovered from the debris. Video footage showed civil defense crews surveying the wreckage and using bulldozers to extract people, including children, from the rubble.

The building had previously been partially destroyed by an Israeli strike early in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It is not immediately clear what caused the collapse, but throughout the war, dozens of bombed-out multi-story buildings have collapsed in Gaza, especially during winter weather. Building collapses have become a significant hazard in Gaza, as displaced families return to homes damaged by bombardment throughout the nearly three years of the war.

Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire taking hold in October last year, the violence in Gaza continues, with Israel continuing to carry out strikes in the devastated territory. The conflict has resulted in over 73,264 Palestinian deaths, including those who have died since the ceasefire. The situation remains tense, with militants carrying out attacks on Israeli troops and Israel responding with strikes, connected to ongoing Israeli elections and cease violations.