Israeli strike damages Gaza building, killing 21
At least 11 children were among those killed as displaced Palestinians sheltered inside a building damaged by earlier Israeli attacks
GAZA CITY, Palestine (MNTV) — At least 21 Palestinians, including 11 children, were killed when a residential building damaged by earlier Israeli strikes collapsed in Gaza City, burying displaced families and underscoring the devastating conditions facing civilians after years of Israeli military strikes.
The Guardian reported that the building collapsed early Wednesday onto nearby tents and shelters used by displaced Palestinians.
Rescue workers said around 100 people were believed to have been affected, while the operation was severely hampered by shortages of heavy machinery and other essential equipment.
The structure had already been left dangerously unstable by Israeli bombardment, but families had moved into it because safe accommodation in Gaza has become extremely scarce.
The collapse demonstrates the continuing danger faced by Palestinians living among buildings damaged during Israel’s military campaign.
Emergency teams searched through the wreckage for survivors and bodies, with rescuers forced in some areas to use their bare hands because adequate machinery was unavailable.
Civil defense personnel and UN agencies were involved in efforts to locate people trapped beneath the debris.
The collapse comes amid a broader housing catastrophe across Gaza. Thousands of buildings have been damaged or destroyed during the war, while reconstruction remains severely restricted and displaced Palestinians have few safe alternatives.
The United Nations has warned that many damaged structures across Gaza pose serious risks to civilians, particularly as families continue to shelter in or near buildings that were previously hit during Israeli attacks.
The latest deaths add to an enormous Palestinian civilian toll accumulated during the conflict.
Gaza health authorities have reported more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began, with women and children accounting for a substantial proportion of those killed.
Israeli military operations have continued despite a ceasefire framework, while Palestinian families remain exposed to damaged infrastructure, inadequate shelter and shortages of basic services.
Israeli authorities have maintained that their military campaign is directed at Hamas and other armed groups.
The collapse also comes as Israeli officials have discussed renewed military operations in Gaza and plans that would further displace Palestinians from parts of the territory.
Israel’s defense minister has warned of intensified operations if Hamas does not meet Israeli demands, raising further concern over the safety of civilians already displaced by the war.
The humanitarian consequences have been compounded by restrictions on reconstruction materials, limited access for rescue equipment, and the destruction of large portions of Gaza’s housing and public infrastructure.
For Palestinians living among the ruins, buildings damaged by bombardment have increasingly become both shelter and a lethal hazard, leaving families with few options beyond returning to structures that may collapse without warning.
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