At least 12 Palestinians, among them five children, lost their lives after a seven-storey apartment building in Gaza, damaged by bombing, collapsed overnight. Rescue teams continue to search the debris for dozens believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

This tragedy underscores the persistent risks faced by tens of thousands of Palestinians residing in approximately 2,000 structurally compromised buildings throughout Gaza. Civil defence officials confirmed that 14 others were injured in the collapse, while nearly 100 people remain unaccounted for under the wreckage.

Video footage shows rescue workers extracting two individuals from beneath a fallen wall, while another clip features Gaza’s civil defence spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, carrying a young girl wrapped in a blood-stained scarf. Raed Al-Dahshan, director of Gaza City’s civil defence, noted that around 10 families lived in the collapsed structure and expressed cautious optimism about finding survivors, stating, “We are still hearing voices from under the rubble, so there is still hope to find people.”

Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Programme’s Gaza office, highlighted the challenges faced by rescuers, including the lack of adequate machinery. Egyptian relief teams are also assisting in the efforts. Mrakic described the situation as tragic, emphasizing that many rescuers are forced to dig with their bare hands and warned that preparations must be made for additional casualties.

He further revealed that roughly 400 buildings in Gaza are at risk of collapse, a danger exacerbated by the approaching winter season. Palestinian and UN officials attribute the shortage of heavy equipment to Israeli restrictions, which Israel defends as necessary to prevent militant groups from acquiring such machinery.

Since Israel launched its offensive on Gaza following Hamas’ deadly October 2023 raid into Israel, the conflict has generated an estimated 61 million tons of debris, which the United Nations estimates will take seven years to clear. Dahshan urged residents to avoid damaged buildings due to the imminent risk of collapse, noting that many families have been forced to inhabit these unsafe structures due to limited shelter options.

He explained, “The limited availability of shelter options forced residents to move into this building, believing it was safe. However, at one point it collapsed entirely, tragically crashing down on people as they slept.” Many families have reported living in partially damaged buildings to shield themselves from harsh weather and because of a shortage of new tents for the displaced.

Although a US-backed ceasefire in October 2025 halted large-scale fighting in Gaza, Israeli strikes have persisted, and little progress has been made toward a lasting peace. Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and undermining efforts to implement US President Donald Trump’s broader plan for ending the Gaza conflict, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas’ disarmament. Israel, in turn, accuses Hamas of breaching the agreement.

Since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza’s health officials report that over 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed, while the Israeli military confirms the deaths of four Israeli soldiers. Hamas typically does not disclose casualty figures among its fighters.