19 Killed as War-Damaged Building Collapses in Gaza During Truce

A war-damaged building collapsed in Gaza City early Wednesday, killing 19 Palestinians, including at least 13 women and children, as thousands of residents continue to live in structures damaged during the conflict despite the ongoing ceasefire.

The seven-storey residential building was already structurally compromised after being damaged in previous Israeli airstrikes. It was being used as shelter by displaced Palestinian families when it collapsed overnight.

At least 25 people were injured, while rescue workers continued searching through the rubble for survivors. The building had been housing around 100 people, about half of them children, according to reports.

Earlier reports from Reuters put the confirmed death toll at 16, including five children, with 14 others injured and about 100 people feared trapped beneath the debris. The higher toll was reported as rescue operations continued.

The collapse highlights the dangerous conditions facing Palestinians who have been left with limited options for shelter after extensive destruction of residential buildings across Gaza.

Reuters reported that around 2,000 damaged buildings remain inhabited by tens of thousands of Palestinians because of a severe shortage of alternative housing. Civil Defence teams have also warned that hundreds of other damaged structures remain at risk of collapse.

Rescue operations have been complicated by shortages of heavy machinery. Emergency workers and civilians have had to rely heavily on manual efforts to move concrete and search for people trapped underneath the wreckage.

The incident comes despite a ceasefire that has significantly reduced the scale of fighting but has not ended violence or the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Reuters reported that more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, while both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the agreement.

The wider humanitarian situation remains severe. Gaza has continued to face shortages of fuel, electricity and essential supplies, with hospitals and households relying heavily on generators. Reuters reported last week that shortages of fuel, engine oil and spare parts were putting additional pressure on the territory’s already damaged health system.

The latest collapse has renewed concerns about the safety of Palestinians living in buildings damaged during the war, particularly as reconstruction remains limited and many displaced families have few alternatives.