Eight children among 21 killed after war-damaged Gaza building collapses, rescuers say — SkimNews
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- The war-damaged six-storey building in Tal al-Hawa, Gaza City — left tilting since an Israeli strike more than a year ago — collapsed early Wednesday, killing at least 21 people including eight children, with about 10 displaced families sheltering inside when it fell.
- Hamas-run Civil Defence led the initial rescue with bare hands, with Gaza City director Raed al-Dahshan telling reporters that voices were still being heard under the rubble, while an Egyptian team and UN agencies joined the search that officials said was proceeding slowly due to lack of equipment.
- UN Development Programme Gaza head Alessandro Mrakic estimated 70–100 people were trapped and warned that approximately 400 other war-damaged buildings across Gaza were at imminent risk of collapse, particularly as winter approaches.
- UN humanitarian coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov said he was "devastated" and urged Israeli authorities to approve deliveries of heavy machinery, tents, and tarpaulins ahead of winter rains, declaring: "No-one should have to risk their life simply to find a safe place to shelter."
- Israel told the BBC its restrictions on equipment entering Gaza are meant to keep it out of the hands of Palestinian armed groups that could repurpose it for military use.
- The UN estimates 80% of all Gaza structures have been destroyed or damaged in the war, with 1.9 million people displaced — 1.2 million of them currently living in tents or makeshift shelters.
Why it matters: The collapse exposes the deadly intersection of Gaza's housing crisis and the aid bottleneck — 400 other war-damaged buildings are at imminent risk of collapse, and Israel restricts the heavy machinery rescuers say they need. Without approved equipment deliveries before winter rains, the same scene could repeat across Gaza, where 1.2 million people already shelter in tents.
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