Six-storey building collapses in Gaza City, killing more than 20

September 21, 2026 at 02:47 PM2 min

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A six-storey residential building collapsed overnight in Gaza City, killing more than 20 people. Rescue workers and residents are searching the rubble by hand for about 100 people still trapped. The building had been damaged by an Israeli strike during the war and had visible cracks.

Key Facts

More than 20 people died when the six-storey al-Saada building collapsed overnight in Gaza City.
About 100 Palestinians are believed to be trapped under the rubble, according to civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal.
The building had been damaged by an Israeli strike during the war and had visible cracks, but residents remained inside.
Gaza City mayor Yahya al-Sarraj said municipal services and civil defence are paralysed and lack adequate tools.
UN humanitarian coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov called the collapse devastating and thanked Egypt, the UAE and Qatar for rapid assistance.

Collapse and Rescue

The six-storey al-Saada building in Gaza City collapsed overnight, killing more than 20 people. Rescue workers and residents are digging through the rubble by hand, and video verified by Al Jazeera shows children being pulled from the debris. Civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said about 100 Palestinians remain trapped and that teams lack proper equipment to reach them. One girl was pulled out alive, and cries for help can be heard from under the rubble.

Structural Damage and Displacement

The building had been damaged by an Israeli strike during the war, leaving cracks and weakened structure, but residents stayed because they had nowhere else to go. Basal said many Palestinians are forced to remain in dangerous buildings because there are no refugee centres or adequate tents. Gaza City mayor Yahya al-Sarraj told Al Jazeera that municipal services and civil defence are paralysed and that this is not the first collapse and may not be the last.

Humanitarian Response

UN humanitarian coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov called the collapse devastating and thanked Egypt, the UAE and Qatar for rapid assistance. Since November 2025, rescue workers have recovered more than 630 bodies from rubble in Gaza, and Palestinian authorities estimate over 8,000 people may still be buried. The war left about 61 million tonnes of construction debris in Gaza, and full clearance could take up to seven years.