A residential building in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City collapsed early Wednesday, killing at least 21 people. Among the victims were eight children, according to local medics and rescue teams. The six-storey structure had been severely compromised by an Israeli strike more than a year ago, yet it remained occupied by displaced families who had no alternative housing options.
Witnesses described the collapse as sudden, comparing the sound to an earthquake. Residents noted that the building had been visibly tilting for some time, with debris frequently falling from the structure. Despite the clear danger, the lack of available shelter forced families to remain inside.
Rescue efforts were hampered by a severe shortage of heavy machinery and equipment. Initial recovery operations were conducted by the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency using only their hands. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) head for Gaza, Alessandro Mrakic, highlighted the lack of resources, noting that teams lack essential spare parts and fuel to operate existing machinery. Mrakic warned that approximately 400 other damaged buildings across the territory are at risk of collapse, a danger that is expected to increase with the onset of winter.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN’s humanitarian relief co-ordinator, expressed devastation over the incident and called on Israeli authorities to facilitate the delivery of heavy equipment and shelter materials. Israel maintains that restrictions on such imports are necessary to prevent dual-use items from reaching Palestinian armed groups.
According to UN data, roughly 80% of structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the ongoing conflict, leaving approximately 1.2 million people living in makeshift shelters or tents. The UN reports that nearly 90% of the territory's population has been displaced since the war began in October 2023.
Source: BBC News
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