Gaza Building Collapse Kills 21, Including 8 Children, as Rescue Teams Dig With Bare Hands
At least 21 people, including eight children, were killed when a war-damaged building collapsed in Gaza, trapping dozens beneath the rubble as rescue workers struggle with limited equipment.
Rescue efforts have been slowed by Israeli restrictions on heavy machinery, forcing workers to dig through debris with their hands [242325]. The building had been struck by an Israeli airstrike last year and was housing about 10 families when it collapsed on Tuesday [242415].
At least 21 people are confirmed dead, with eight of the victims being children [242415]. The Gaza health authority reported that five of the dead were children [242325]. Dozens of people remain missing beneath the rubble as rescue teams continue searching the site [242415].
"It is like the worst days of the war," journalist Amer al-Sultan, who is at the scene, told DN [242325].
The collapse highlights the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where authorities say 2,000 damaged buildings across the territory are still occupied by families who have nowhere else to go [242723].
The tragedy comes amid a fragile truce that had raised hopes of reduced violence. Israeli attacks have injured at least 21 Palestinians, including four children, despite the ongoing ceasefire [240881]. Four of the wounded are in critical condition [240881].
In a separate incident, a pregnant Palestinian woman died after being shot in the head by Israeli forces near Khan Younis. Iman Shalouf, 27, was nearly eight months pregnant when she was struck by gunfire while sitting inside her family's tent in the al-Mawasi area, according to paramedics and witnesses [240487]. Her death came during 48 hours of strikes across Gaza that killed at least 10 people [240487].
Israeli strikes have also hit camps in Gaza, destroying tents and killing at least two people [242091].