At least 20 people, including five children, have been killed after a six-story war-damaged building collapsed in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City. Dozens more are believed to be trapped under the rubble as rescue teams continue to search for survivors.
According to residents, about 10 families lived in the building, despite warnings that the structure was unsafe due to damage caused by the war.
Gaza Civil Defense teams began the search and rescue operation with their bare hands due to a lack of heavy equipment. Later, some machinery was made available by UN agencies and an Egyptian aid organization.
"We still hear voices from under the rubble, so there is still hope of finding people," said Raed al-Dahshan, the director of Civil Defense in Gaza City.
Meanwhile, Alessandro Mrakic, head of the United Nations Development Programme office in Gaza, said it is believed that 70 to 100 people could still be under the rubble.
"The system is tragic because we don't have the necessary equipment and machinery. In fact, there are people digging with their bare hands," he declared.
The UN has warned that about 400 more war-damaged buildings in Gaza could collapse, especially as winter approaches. The organization has called on Israeli authorities to allow the entry of heavy machinery for rescue operations, as well as materials needed for displaced people.
Israel argues that restrictions on the equipment are aimed at preventing it from falling into the hands of Palestinian armed groups.
According to UN data cited in the report, about 80% of structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the war. Over 1.9 million people, about 90% of the territory's population, have been displaced since the start of the conflict, while about 1.2 million currently live in tents or makeshift shelters.
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Since then, more than 73,790 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, figures that the UN considers credible.
