OMM Redaksiyası
At least 12 Palestinians, including five children, were killed when a seven-story residential building collapsed overnight in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Civil Defense Service, 14 more people were injured, while about 100 others are believed to remain trapped under the rubble.
Rescue teams searched through the wreckage on Wednesday with limited technical equipment. Raid al-Dahshan, head of the Gaza City Civil Defense Service, said at least 10 families had been living in the building and that voices could still be heard beneath the debris.
“We can still hear voices under the rubble. This gives us hope that we may find people alive,” al-Dahshan said.
Rescue efforts hampered by lack of equipment
Alessandro Mraki, head of the United Nations Development Programme office in Gaza, said UN rescue teams and an Egyptian aid organization were involved in the operation. However, a shortage of heavy equipment had seriously slowed the work.
According to Mraki, some rescue workers tried to clear the rubble with their bare hands. He said about 400 buildings in Gaza were at risk of collapse and that the danger would increase with rain expected during the coming winter.
Thousands live in damaged buildings
The collapse has once again highlighted the danger facing families living in structures damaged during Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The Civil Defense Service says about 2,000 damaged buildings are still being used as homes.
Because of shortages of shelters and tents, some families have moved into partially damaged houses to protect themselves from harsh weather. Al-Dahshan said residents had few alternatives and had moved into the building because they believed it was safe.
Palestinian and UN officials cite restrictions on the entry of heavy equipment needed to clear rubble and conduct rescue operations as one of the reasons for the shortage of machinery in Gaza. Israel says the restrictions are intended to prevent the equipment from falling into the hands of armed groups.
Scale of destruction in Gaza remains extensive
According to UN estimates, the military campaign that began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 has generated about 61 million tons of debris in Gaza. The organization estimates that, under suitable conditions, clearing most of the rubble could take seven years.
The incident occurred amid a US-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025 and halted large-scale fighting. However, Israeli strikes have reportedly continued, while talks on a long-term agreement have made little significant progress.
According to Gaza health officials, more than 1,300 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire began. The Israeli military has said that four Israeli soldiers were killed during the same period.
