At least 12 killed after war-damaged Gaza building collapses
At least 20 people, including five children, have been killed and dozens more are missing after a war-damaged multi-storey building collapsed in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City. Locals said around 10 families had been living in the apartments despite prior warnings that the structure was unsafe, underlining the dangers civilians face returning to or remaining in damaged buildings amid the ongoing conflict. Rescue efforts have been hampered by restrictions on equipment entering Gaza, raising concerns about the ability to reach survivors quickly.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence rescue service said its teams initially had to search the rubble with "empty hands" because of tight Israeli restrictions on equipment allowed into the territory, though they have since obtained some heavy machinery to assist the operation. Separately, Israeli air strikes on Tuesday killed at least five Palestinians, including two children and a Hamas commander, according to health officials and Hamas sources, with the Israeli military confirming it targeted a Hamas commander in southern Gaza and another fighter in the north. The British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians also reported that a patient was killed by an Israeli drone strike at a health centre it supports in Jabalia, northern Gaza.
- Gaza building collapse kills at least 20, including five children
- Rescuers faced equipment shortages amid Israeli restrictions
- Separate Israeli strikes killed five Palestinians, including a Hamas commander