A multi-level residential building collapsed suddenly in Gaza City, killing at least 21 people in their sleep, including 11 children, and leaving rescuers to dig through heavy debris with bare hands, according to local health and civil defence officials. Zaher al-Wahidi, a spokesperson for the Gaza Health Ministry, confirmed the death toll on Wednesday, adding that five women were among the dead and at least 14 people sustained injuries during the early morning disaster.
Desperate Shelter Choices Amid Raging Destruction
At least six displaced Palestinian families occupied the damaged structure prior to its collapse, fully aware that prior Israeli strikes earlier in the conflict had left the building critically unstable. According to civil defence workers on the site, families faced severe housing shortages across the enclave. “The lack of options and alternatives left them with no other choice,” rescuer Aboud Majdalawi told reporters. Neighbour Ahmed Abu Kweik noted that residents repeatedly asked where else they could go when warned to evacuate the teetering frame. With reconstruction stalled since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in October 2025, roughly two million people remain confined to less than half of the territory, relying entirely on aid while thousands of damaged structures risk total failure ahead of winter weather.
Did you know? According to the United Nations, Israel’s ongoing military campaign has generated approximately 61 million tons of wreckage and debris across Gaza, an immense volume that officials estimate could take up to seven years to clear entirely.
Rescue Operations Hampered by Equipment Shortages
Rescue efforts at the Gaza City site faced physical limitations due to a lack of heavy excavation machinery. Alessandro Mrakic, head of the United Nations Development Programme’s Gaza office, told interviewers that relief workers lacked proper tools and were forced to dig manually. “The situation, as you see, is tragic because we don’t have the equipment and machinery that is needed,” Mrakic said, noting that approximately 400 additional damaged buildings face a risk of collapse. While Palestinian and UN officials attribute the equipment shortages directly to Israeli restrictions designed to keep machinery out of militant hands, Raed Al-Dahshan, the director of Gaza City’s civil defence service, warned all remaining residents to stay clear of heavily fractured structures.
Ceasefire Stalls and Rising Post-Truce Casualties
The fatal collapse highlights the fragile nature of the October 2025 ceasefire, which quieted large-scale combat but failed to halt near-daily military engagements. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 1,375 Palestinians have died since the truce took effect. Israel maintains that reconstruction will not commence until Hamas disarms, while Hamas accuses Israel of violating the agreement and undermining broader peace frameworks. The nearly three-year war, triggered by the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks that killed 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 hostages, has claimed the lives of more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the Gaza City building collapse?
At least 21 people, including 11 children and five women, were killed when the damaged structure collapsed, according to Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Wahidi.
Why were families living in a damaged building?
Civil defence workers and local residents reported that severe housing shortages and a lack of reconstruction forced displaced families to shelter in unstable structures because they had nowhere else to go.
What equipment are rescuers using?
Due to severe restrictions on heavy machinery, rescue teams from Gaza’s civil defence and UN agencies have been forced to dig through thick rubble using bare hands and limited basic tools.
How many damaged buildings remain occupied in Gaza?
Local civil defence services estimate that about 2,000 damaged buildings across the enclave are currently inhabited by families seeking shelter from wind and rain.
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