War-damaged Gaza apartment block collapses, killing dozens as rescuers dig with bare hands

A multi-storey residential building weakened by previous military strikes has collapsed in Gaza City, killing at least 20 people and leaving dozens more trapped beneath the concrete.

The collapse happened overnight in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, crushing not only those sleeping inside but also the makeshift tents of displaced families pitched along the road outside. Rescuers said they could hear the desperate cries of survivors trapped deep in the wreckage, but they are struggling to reach them.

What happened in Gaza City?

The six-storey apartment block collapsed entirely on Wednesday, catching residents by surprise as they slept. While local civil defence officials confirmed five children were among the dead, other rescue monitors put the figure at eight.

Between 70 and 100 people are believed to be buried in the ruins. The building, which housed four apartments on each floor, had been home to at least 10 displaced families who moved into the damaged structure because they had no other shelter. Witnesses said the block had been left tilting precariously after an Israeli strike more than a year ago.

Why was a damaged building occupied?

With options exhausted, thousands of Palestinians have returned to structurally compromised homes. Since the war began in October 2023, the UN estimates that roughly 80 percent of Gaza's structures have been damaged or destroyed.

Soaring rents and a severe shortage of tents have left families with few alternatives. Local rescue services estimate that around 2,000 damaged buildings are currently inhabited.

"The limited availability of shelter options forced residents to move into this building, believing it was safe," said Raed al-Dahshan, the director of the Civil Defence in Gaza City.

Why are rescue efforts so slow?

With heavy machinery almost non-existent in the blockaded strip, rescue workers and local residents have been forced to dig through the heavy debris with their bare hands.

Alessandro Mrakic, the head of the United Nations Development Programme’s Gaza office, said rescuers from UN agencies and Egyptian relief workers are facing extreme difficulties. Rescuers lack not only heavy earth-moving equipment but even basic supplies like engine oil and spare parts to run the machines they do have.

Israel has long restricted the entry of construction materials and heavy machinery into Gaza, arguing that such equipment could be seized by armed groups and repurposed for military use.

What happens next as winter approaches?

The disaster has raised fears of similar tragedies across the territory. Mrakic warned that approximately 400 other war-damaged buildings are at imminent risk of collapse, with the threat rising as winter rains approach.

UN humanitarian coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov called on Israeli authorities to immediately approve the delivery of heavy machinery, tents, and winter supplies to prevent further loss of life.

Although a US-backed ceasefire agreed in October 2025 halted large-scale fighting, low-level strikes and casualties have persisted. Gaza's health ministry reports that more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the truce took effect.