In a heartbreaking incident, a six-story residential building in the west of Gaza City, which had been damaged due to Israeli airstrikes, collapsed at midnight, claiming the lives of at least 20 Palestinians. This building, which housed nearly 100 people including 10 homeless families, was reported to have been damaged in this incident by the Gaza Civil Defense organization.
Rescue Operations and Challenges
The Civil Defense organization reported that 16 people have been rescued from the rubble, 10 of whom are injured. The effort to find missing individuals continues, and hundreds remain trapped under the rubble and in surrounding tents. Mahmoud Basel, spokesperson for the Civil Defense organization, stated: "Our teams are working with basic tools and by hand and need heavy equipment. This situation has made rescue operations very difficult."
Read more: China Calls for Reopening of Hormuz Strait in Talks with Abbas Araqchi
Potential Risks and Need for Assistance
The Civil Defense organization has also warned that with the approach of winter, dozens of other severely damaged buildings may be at risk of collapse. The organization has called for heavy machinery to enter the Gaza Strip to continue rescue operations. Alessandro Marakich, head of the UN Development Program office in Gaza, described the situation as "tragic" and stated that some UN organizations are participating in the rescue efforts, but the lack of appropriate equipment has made the work difficult.
Basel added: "Nearly 2,000 buildings in the Gaza Strip are at risk of collapse, and residents continue to live in these buildings due to a lack of alternative options." Mohammad Saleh, head of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza, also stated that the destruction of homes and the lack of emergency shelters have forced families to live in partially destroyed buildings. He called for the entry of shelter items and heavy machinery to clear debris and rescue trapped individuals.
Consequences of the Humanitarian Crisis
Dr. Ramez Ali Akbarz, the UN humanitarian coordinator in the Palestinian territories, expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing that rescue operations must continue and every effort to save individuals trapped under the rubble must be made. He also thanked Egypt for providing heavy machinery and thanked the UAE and Qatar for sending relief items. While the US-backed ceasefire in October 2025 ended widespread hostilities in Gaza, Israeli attacks continue, and there has been little progress towards lasting peace.
Read more: Shahbaz Sharif Strongly Condemns Attack on Mecca · Controversial Report from NASA: Historic Praise at Venice Festival
