A seven-story residential building in Gaza City collapsed during the night after sustaining damage from earlier attacks, resulting in at least 12 deaths, including 5 children, and 14 injuries. Rescue officials estimate nearly 100 people remain trapped beneath the rubble.
The Gaza Civil Defense authorities intensified search and rescue efforts following the collapse of a seven-story residential building in the western part of Gaza City during the night. The incident caused at least 12 deaths, including 5 children, and injured 14 others, with nearly 100 people believed still trapped under the debris.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera shows rescue teams attempting to extract children and survivors from the concrete rubble, with local residents joining in by digging with their bare hands to help those trapped inside, amid cries for help from children still heard beneath the debris.
Another image shows a young girl being rescued alive, while several survivors, including small children, were carried out of the rubble gasping for breath before being taken to ambulances.
Raed al-Dahshan, director of the Civil Defense in Gaza City, stated that at least 10 families lived in the building before the collapse. Rescuers still hear voices beneath the rubble, providing hope that more survivors may be found.
Local media reported that the building had previously been hit by an Israeli airstrike, causing structural cracks and instability that eventually led to its collapse.
Alessandro Mrakic, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Gaza, said that rescue personnel from UN agencies and Egyptian relief organizations joined the search and rescue operations. However, their work has been difficult due to a shortage of heavy machinery and equipment, forcing some responders to dig by hand to locate those trapped.
Mrakic warned that around 400 more buildings are at risk of collapse, especially with the onset of winter. Local rescue teams reported that approximately 2,000 damaged buildings across Gaza still house families.
Palestinian officials and the United Nations blame Israeli restrictions on bringing heavy machinery into Gaza as a key reason for limited rescue capabilities. Israel says these controls are intended to prevent equipment from being used by armed groups.
The United Nations estimates that the Gaza war, which began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, has produced about 61 million tons of debris and rubble, with cleanup efforts potentially taking up to seven years.
Al-Dahshan warned residents to stay away from damaged buildings due to the risk of collapse. He noted many families are forced to live in damaged structures because of limited shelter options, with some choosing partially destroyed buildings to seek refuge from wind and rain, as there are insufficient tents for the homeless.
Although a US-backed ceasefire in October 2025 ended large-scale fighting in Gaza, Israeli attacks have continued, and efforts toward lasting peace have made limited progress.
Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and undermining former President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza conflict, which included Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas disarmament. Israel accuses Hamas of breaching the agreement.
Gaza health officials report that since the ceasefire took effect, over 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died. The Israeli military reports four Israeli soldiers killed. Hamas has not regularly disclosed its militant casualties.
.sourceAl Jazeera/Reuters