At Least 50 Children Trapped Under Collapsed Gaza Building
At least 50 children were among around 100 Palestinians trapped beneath a collapsed building in Gaza City, as rescue teams searched through the rubble for survivors.
The building, located in the Tal al-Hawa area west of Gaza City, had been sheltering displaced Palestinian families. It had previously sustained damage from Israeli shelling, leaving the structure severely weakened before it collapsed while people were sleeping.
Rescue teams initially recovered 11 bodies, while dozens of people remained missing beneath the rubble. The death toll later rose to at least 21, including 12 children and five women, according to Palestinian Civil Defense and Gaza health authorities. Dozens of injured people were also taken to hospitals.
Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said residents had returned to damaged buildings because many families had no tents or other shelter available. He said the building had been struck several times in 2024 and again in March 2025, with residents previously warned about the risk of returning.
Rescue operations have been complicated by shortages of heavy machinery and the widespread destruction of buildings across Gaza. Civil Defense estimates that about 2,000 buildings are at risk of collapse, highlighting the dangers facing displaced families living in damaged structures.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said it provided materials to support the search operation at the request of local authorities. UN humanitarian coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov said the collapse underscored the serious risks faced by families seeking shelter in unsafe buildings.
