21 Killed in Gaza Building Collapse, Including Eight Children

At least 21 people, including eight children, have lost their lives after a war-damaged building collapsed overnight in the Gaza Strip, according to rescue teams and medics.

The incident occurred in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City, where a six-story building had been heavily damaged by an Israeli strike more than a year earlier. According to witnesses, the building had been left leaning and in a dangerous condition, but displaced families continued to live there due to the lack of shelter.

United Nations teams and Egyptian teams joined the search-and-rescue operation. Due to the lack of heavy equipment, Gaza’s Civil Defense workers were initially forced to search for survivors with their bare hands.

Rescue authorities said on Wednesday afternoon that the operation had concluded, while 45 injured people had been taken to hospitals.

A resident of the area, who lost his sister in the collapse, said families had been unable to find a tent or another place to live. According to him, the lack of alternatives had forced them to stay in the building, despite the risk of collapse.