Gaza Building Collapse Kills 12 as Thousands Remain in Unstable Structures
A seven-story building collapse in Gaza leaves 12 dead and dozens trapped. Discover the ongoing risks for families living in damaged, war-torn structures.
POLICY WIRE — Gaza, Gaza Strip — Rescue teams are working through the night to locate survivors after a seven-story apartment building collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 Palestinians, including five children. Approximately 100 individuals are feared to be trapped beneath the debris.
The tragedy underscores the precarious living conditions for thousands of residents currently occupying roughly 2,000 damaged structures across the territory. Many families have sought refuge in these compromised buildings to escape the elements, despite the constant threat of structural failure.
Raed Al-Dahshan, director of the Gaza City civil defense service, noted that at least 10 families were residing in the building at the time of the collapse. He stated, “We are still hearing voices from under the rubble, so there is still hope to find people,” while warning others to avoid damaged sites.
Efforts to recover survivors are severely hampered by a lack of heavy equipment. Alessandro Mrakic, head of the U.N. Development Programme’s Gaza office, explained that rescuers are often forced to dig with their bare hands. He warned that with winter approaching, approximately 400 additional buildings are at high risk of collapse.
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While Palestinian and U.N. officials attribute the shortage of machinery to Israeli restrictions, Israel maintains that these controls are necessary to prevent equipment from being diverted to militant groups. The United Nations estimates that the conflict has generated 61 million tons of debris, which could take seven years to clear.
Separately, Israeli military operations continue, with recent strikes in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood killing two people, including a child. The Israeli military confirmed targeting a militant in the area and a Hamas commander in the Rafah Brigade, as reported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Despite an October 2025 U.S.-backed ceasefire, tensions remain high. Health officials report that over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the agreement took effect, while the Israeli military reports the deaths of four soldiers. Both sides continue to trade accusations regarding violations of the ceasefire and the broader peace framework.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
