A residential building in Gaza City collapsed overnight, killing 19 Palestinians and injuring 25 others, according to reports from local authorities and rescue teams. The disaster has highlighted the continuing dangers faced by displaced Palestinians living in buildings damaged during the war.
The multi-storey building had previously been damaged during Israeli military strikes and was being used as shelter by several displaced families. Rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors and additional victims following the collapse.
The incident underscores the severe housing shortage in Gaza, where many residents have been forced to live in damaged or partially destroyed buildings because safer accommodation remains scarce. Reuters reported that roughly 2,000 damaged buildings are still being inhabited by tens of thousands of Palestinians, while hundreds of structures are considered at risk of collapse.
Rescue operations have also been complicated by a shortage of heavy machinery and other essential equipment. Emergency workers have often had to rely on manual digging to reach people trapped beneath collapsed structures, slowing efforts to locate survivors.
The collapse comes despite an ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, under which large-scale fighting was supposed to have been halted. However, Israeli military actions and other violence have continued, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce.
The humanitarian situation remains extremely difficult. The United Nations has reported continuing shortages of essential supplies, damaged housing and restrictions affecting the delivery of materials needed to improve living conditions and prepare for flooding and other hazards.
The latest tragedy illustrates how the destruction of Gaza’s housing stock continues to endanger civilians even when they are not directly caught in active fighting. For displaced families with few alternatives, buildings damaged during the conflict can become both a refuge and a serious safety risk.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the collapse is likely to intensify calls for safer shelter, access to emergency equipment and accelerated efforts to address the extensive structural damage across Gaza.
Swifteradio.com
