‘Nowhere to go’: Gaza’s damaged buildings turn deadly

What the report says

A damaged residential building in western Gaza City collapsed early on Wednesday, killing at least 21 Palestinians and trapping residents under heavy rubble, according to Al Jazeera. The report said the al-Saada building had been weakened during the war and had long raised fears among neighbours, but people continued living there because many families in Gaza had few other shelter options.

Among those affected was the al-Ajlah family, whose members had returned to Gaza City after earlier displacement and moved into an empty apartment in the building despite warnings that it was unsafe. Hayat al-Ajlah said she survived with her children, while several close relatives, including her parents, siblings and nieces and nephews, were killed. Her daughter Dalia was taken to hospital with a serious head injury. Other families gathered at al-Shifa Hospital as recovery efforts continued and people waited for news of missing relatives.

Al Jazeera reported that rescue work was slowed by a shortage of heavy machinery and other equipment, forcing Palestinian Civil Defence teams to rely on basic tools to remove concrete and debris. The article links that shortage to restrictions on imports into Gaza during the war. Residents said the collapse underscored a wider danger: many people in Gaza are still living near or inside damaged structures because tents and temporary shelters are overcrowded, and reconstruction has stalled. The incident highlights how war damage can remain lethal long after the immediate fighting in an area has passed.