Gaza, building collapses hit in a raid: 21 dead including 12 children
Quick Look
- A multi-storey building west of Gaza City collapsed during the night, causing 21 confirmed deaths including 12 children and dozens of missing people.
- The structure had already been seriously damaged by previous Israeli bombings and housed families of displaced Palestinians.
- According to the Palestinian Civil Protection, around 100 people, including 50 children, are still under the rubble.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The collapsed building west of Gaza City had already been hit several times in 2024 and March 2025 by Israeli bombing, despite it having been declared unsafe and the population had been invited not to return. The structure hosted dozens of families of displaced Palestinians who, lacking tents or houses available, were forced to live in damaged buildings despite the risk of collapse.
Gaza, building collapses: it was hit in a raid. 21 dead, among them 12 children
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21 CONFIRMED VICTIMS, INCLUDING 12 CHILDREN
The dramatic toll from the collapse of a multi-storey building which occurred overnight west of Gaza City is 21 dead, including 12 children and dozens missing. The numbers were provided by the authorities of the Strip. The structure, which had already been seriously damaged by previous Israeli bombings, was home to dozens of displaced Palestinian families at the time.
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A HUNDRED OF PEOPLE STILL UNDER THE RUBBLE
According to reports from the Palestinian Civil Protection, cited by the broadcaster Al Jazeera, the collapse occurred around 1 am, while the occupants of the building were sleeping. Under the tons of concrete there would still be at least 100 people trapped, including around 50 children, belonging to different families.
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THE TESTIMONIALS OF THE RESCUERS
The first testimonies have arrived from the rescuers which account for the dramatic nature of the event. "We can hear the voices of the citizens under the rubble and our teams are trying to reach them", declared the spokesperson of the Civil Protection
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THE BUILDING ALREADY HIT
The building had been hit several times in 2024 and March 2025 and the population had been invited not to return there, explained Civil Protection spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal. "They have no other choice. As there are no tents or houses available, they live in cracked and damaged buildings despite the risk of collapse," he said.
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SMALL CHILDREN EXTRACTED ALIVE FROM THE RUBBLE
Footage verified by Al Jazeera testifies to the drama of the last hours. In the videos, rescuers can be seen extracting alive some small children and several survivors, who were immediately transported to hospital on board ambulances.
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HE DIGS WITH BARE HANDS TO SAVE SURVIVORS
Witnesses on site say that the cries for help of the trapped children continue to be clearly heard from the ruins, while the Civil Protection continues its desperate race against time, often digging with its bare hands.
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CIVIL PROTECTION: ANOTHER 2 THOUSAND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS
Around 2,000 buildings in the inhabited areas of the Gaza Strip are in "precarious structural conditions" like those of the building that collapsed during the night, but residents are "unable to abandon them due to the lack of alternative accommodation", a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Protection told the press, quoted by the Arab media
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THE SERIOUS RISKS FOR FAMILIES
The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territories, Ramiz Alakbarov, said he was "devastated" by the news. “The tragedy highlights the grave risks faced by families living in these facilities and the urgent need for safer alternatives. No one should risk their lives simply to find a place to shelter,” he said
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The number of victims will increase as rescuers continue their searches under the rubble.
Very likely · Within hours
There will be increased international pressure on Israel to respect international humanitarian law and avoid further attacks on civilian facilities.
Likely · Within days
Further stability checks will be carried out on the other 2,000 unsafe buildings in the Gaza Strip to prevent further collapses.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- How many people are still alive under the rubble and what is the probability of saving them?
- What are the exact structural conditions of the other 2,000 unsafe buildings in the Gaza Strip?
- What concrete actions are Israeli and Palestinian authorities taking to prevent further collapses and protect civilians?
- When and how will it be possible to provide safe housing alternatives to displaced people in Gaza?
