At least 20 people have been killed, including several children, after a war-damaged residential building collapsed in Gaza City early Wednesday. The disaster struck the six-story al-Sa’ada residential building, also referred to as As-Saada, located in the city’s Rimal neighborhood or the As-Sina’a area southwest of Gaza City, according to local authorities and reports from Al-Jazeera. Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa hospital, stated that at least 21 people were killed in the disaster, including 11 children, with many others injured.
Gaza Building Collapse Kills Over 20 People As Search For Trapped Residents Continues
The structure had been targeted by Israeli airstrikes at the beginning of the war in Gaza, leaving it tilting to one side with significant structural damage and cracks. Because of a severe shortage of alternative housing and safe places of refuge, approximately 10 displaced families—totaling between 70 and 100 people, including about 50 children—were sheltering inside the apartments and in tents erected beside it when the collapse occurred at around 3 a.m.
Rescue Operations Hindered By Equipment Shortages
Search and rescue operations are underway at the site, though emergency crews face severe challenges. Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported that dozens of people remain missing under layers of concrete and rubble. Rescuers and witnesses described a tragic scene where emergency personnel and residents were forced to dig through debris with their bare hands and basic tools because of a lack of proper equipment.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Gaza office head, Alessandro Mrakic, noted that responders lacked the necessary machinery, engine oil, and spare parts. Hamas’ media office accused Israel of maintaining a refusal to allow the entry of sufficient heavy equipment, machinery, and rescue supplies, categorizing them as “dual-use goods” that could potentially be repurposed for military use. In response to the crisis, Egypt has provided heavy machinery, while the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are set to deliver relief items, according to UN officials.
Wider Shelter Crisis Across The Gaza Strip
The disaster has drawn strong reactions from international officials. Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stated that he was devastated by the reports, emphasizing that No one should have to risk their life simply to find a safe place to shelter.
Alakbarov called for urgent approvals for the entry of heavy machinery, specialized equipment, engine oil, fuel, tents, and tarpaulins.
Local authorities and UN agencies warn that this event highlights a broader, ongoing danger throughout the territory. Gaza’s Ministry of Housing reported that about 3,000 buildings in the territory have been classified as dangerous or at risk of collapse due to prior structural damage. Civil Defense figures indicate that roughly 2,000 structurally compromised buildings remain occupied by residents and displaced families. With approximately 1.9 million Palestinians—about 90% of the territory’s population—displaced during the conflict, many are living in tents, makeshift shelters, or damaged structures as winter and the rainy season approach.