A building housing about 100 displaced Palestinian families collapsed in Gaza City, killing at least 20 people, according to The Guardian. Rescuers are searching the rubble for dozens of people believed to be trapped, including children. The structure had been previously damaged by Israeli strikes, leaving it weakened and at risk of collapse. Witnesses reported that the building fell on tents housing displaced families, exacerbating the tragedy.

The incident highlights the ongoing danger faced by tens of thousands of Palestinians living in over 2,000 damaged buildings across Gaza. Mohammed Abu Dan, a civil defence supervisor, stated that more than 10 families had been living in the building due to a lack of alternative shelter. He noted that search and rescue operations are being conducted under extremely difficult conditions due to a lack of necessary equipment and resources.

Palestinian and UN officials have blamed Israeli restrictions on Gaza for the lack of heavy machinery, while Israel maintains its restrictions are intended to prevent equipment from reaching militant groups. Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Programme’s Gaza office, described the rescue operation as extremely difficult due to the lack of appropriate machinery. He noted that some rescuers are digging with their bare hands, and warned of the need for more support.

The collapse is part of a pattern of similar incidents over the past two years, with dozens of homes and buildings damaged during the war later collapsing and trapping people. Many Palestinians have returned to partly destroyed homes or moved into abandoned buildings, despite the danger. Soaring rents and the cost of vacant land have made finding safer accommodation increasingly difficult. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians remain unable to return to areas near the so-called yellow line, forcing families to find whatever space they can elsewhere.

Israeli strikes on Gaza have continued despite the ceasefire, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting 1,369 Palestinians killed and 4,627 wounded since the ceasefire took effect on 11 October 2025. An independent UN inquiry found Israel had continued to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza. Separately, a video from the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood showed the aftermath of an Israeli drone strike that killed Mohammed al-Zinati, 15, and wounded several others. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, stated that it was only a matter of time before Israel resumed full-scale war in Gaza and moved to force out its Palestinian population.

The situation remains unclear in several respects. The exact number of casualties is still being assessed, and the full extent of the damage to the building and surrounding structures is not yet known. The role of Israeli military actions in the collapse of the building is also under scrutiny, with conflicting accounts from Palestinian and Israeli officials. The long-term implications for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the potential for further casualties remain uncertain.