Dozens Feared Dead, 100 Trapped After Gaza Building Collapse

At least 12 Palestinians, including five children, were killed overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday when a seven-story building collapsed in western Gaza City. Gaza's Civil Defense reported that 14 people were injured, with estimates suggesting around 100 more are trapped beneath the rubble. The building had previously been bombed during the war and was being used to house displaced Palestinians.

According to Reuters, tens of thousands of Palestinians live in approximately 2,000 buildings damaged by Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. Rescue workers were seen attempting to extract two individuals from beneath a collapsed wall. Raed Al-Dahshan, director of Civil Defense services in Gaza City, stated that at least 10 families resided in the collapsed building and expressed hope for finding survivors, noting that sounds were still being heard from under the debris.

Alessandro Marrakic, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) office in Gaza, confirmed that UN rescue teams are involved in the complex operation, hampered by a lack of suitable equipment. The Egyptian Aid Agency also participated. Marrakic described the situation as tragic due to the absence of necessary machinery, with some individuals digging with their bare hands. He warned that around 400 buildings are at risk of collapse, particularly with winter approaching.

Palestinian and UN officials attribute the shortage of heavy equipment in Gaza to Israeli restrictions, which Israel claims are necessary to prevent equipment from reaching terrorist organizations. The UN estimates that the war since October 7 has generated about 61 million tons of debris, potentially taking seven years to clear. Al-Dahshan urged residents to stay away from damaged structures due to the ongoing risk of collapse.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its operations, announcing the elimination of Hamas's Rafah Brigade commander, Nael Abu Aid, who was described as a key figure responsible for the brigade's operations and planning terror attacks. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on Israel to allow international investigators into Gaza to gather evidence of alleged war crimes and violations, noting that entire families appear to have been found in the rubble, raising concerns about war crimes. The UN estimates over 8,000 people may be missing under the debris.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Harkabi commented on the humanitarian situation, stating that 600-700 trucks of aid enter daily and that Gaza's population has grown by 4%. He questioned the notion of genocide given the aid flow and criticized Hamas for not disarming since the October 2025 ceasefire.