Gaza Building Collapse Kills 21, Including Hamas Leader's Ex-Bodyguard

A six-story residential building named "Al-Saada" collapsed in the Al-Sinaa neighborhood in southwestern Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of 21 people and the rescue of 45 others from the rubble. According to the Gaza Interior Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, the deceased include 12 children and five women. The building had sustained damage previously but was still inhabited by displaced residents of the Gaza Strip.

Among the reported fatalities is Mahmoud Kamal Muslih Saada. Gaza Now reported that Saada, his wife, and children all perished in the collapse. The Telegram channel Abu Ali Express identified Mahmoud Saada as a former bodyguard for Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh. This channel also cited sources opposed to Hamas, suggesting that an old Hamas tunnel, recently undergoing repairs, was located beneath the building and may have caused the collapse. However, this claim lacks independent verification.

Arab media and Gaza authorities attribute the collapse to damage the building sustained during recent military operations. The exact cause of the collapse remains unconfirmed.