Gaza city: At least 14 Palestinians, including five children, were killed when a residential building that had been damaged during Israel's war collapsed in western Gaza City.
According to Anadolu Agency, the tragedy struck as the building, which was housing displaced people, gave way, adding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
A medical source told Anadolu that the bodies of 14 Palestinians, including five children, were recovered, and 25 injured individuals were transported to hospitals in Gaza City following the collapse of the Al-Saada building in the city's Al-Sinaa area. Palestinian Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal revealed at a news conference that the building had previously been targeted by Israeli bombardment during the war, which ultimately led to its collapse.
Bassal further disclosed that approximately 100 people remained missing under the rubble, raising concerns about the potential for more casualties. He highlighted that around 2,000 damaged buildings across the Gaza Strip are at risk of collapsing, posing a continued threat to residents and displaced Palestinians. Bassal urged the international community to provide critical equipment and machinery to aid rescue teams in recovering those still missing.
Gaza Mayor Yahya al-Sarraj emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the building's collapse signals the risk of more damaged residential buildings falling. He called for the introduction of mobile homes into Gaza before winter to offer alternative housing for affected residents and displaced individuals.
In remarks to Anadolu, Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna pointed out that displaced families had taken refuge in the collapsed building after fleeing difficult conditions in tent camps. He echoed the warning about the potential for further collapses of damaged buildings and called for the immediate entry of heavy and specialized equipment necessary for effective rescue operations and debris removal.
Anadolu's correspondent noted that due to a shortage of heavy machinery, official institutions in Gaza have turned to private-sector companies for equipment. According to the latest figures from Gaza's Health Ministry, 1,375 Palestinians have been killed and 4,686 injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025. The Health Ministry reports that the Palestinian death toll since the onset of Israel's war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, has reached nearly 74,000, with over 174,000 others injured.