20 reported dead, dozens missing after damaged Gaza City building collapses

At least 20 people, including five children, were reported killed and dozens were missing Wednesday after a Gaza City apartment building collapsed, with the Hamas-run civil defense agency saying the structure had sustained damage in earlier Israeli strikes. The six-story building, which had four apartments per floor, crumbled overnight onto nearby homes and tents in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City, according to the civil defense agency, which works as a rescue service under Hamas authority. Agency spokesman Mahmoud Basal told AFP the building had sustained structural damage from Israeli strikes. He said that the bodies of “20 martyrs have been recovered from the rubble of a building that collapsed… Among the dead are five infants, while dozens of people remain trapped beneath the debris.” The building was hit multiple times in 2024 and March 2025, leading to warnings for Gazans not to go back, he added. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms “They have no other choice. With neither tents nor homes available, they are living in cracked, damaged buildings despite the risk of collapse,” Basal said. Palestinian civil defense crews search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building that housed displaced Palestinians and was heavily damaged during the Israel-Hamas war, in Gaza City, September 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) The vast majority of structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the war, according to the United Nations. The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Advertisement According to the territory’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, the Israeli military campaign has killed more than 73,700 people. With large numbers of Palestinians left homeless and major shortages of construction materials, many Gaza residents have taken the risk of moving into the shaky buildings. The civil defense agency has identified around 2,000 buildings in the Gaza Strip that it says are at risk of collapse. The Gaza government media office under Hamas pointed to delays in the reconstruction of the Strip. Displaced Palestinian children watch a movie amid the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes during the war between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, September 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) “We hold the Israeli occupation and the international community fully and directly responsible for this catastrophe befalling our Palestinian people,” it said. Israel has allowed additional aid into Gaza since the declaration of a US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025. Meanwhile, Israel has continued carrying out strikes in Gaza since the ceasefire, saying they are aimed at thwarting threats from Hamas and other terror groups. It has also restricted the entry of some equipment that it says could have military applications. Help us report truthfully on social media As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos. This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world. 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Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular 1 IDF chief met army heads of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, other Arab states to discuss Iran – report 2 ‘NAZA’ director accuses Israeli media of ignoring Gaza civilian deaths for entire war 3 Gaza terrorists heard joking during Oct. 7 attack in newly released intercepted calls 4 IDF chief floats legal action against ‘NAZA’ film, orders probe of leaked material 5 Inside story Aimed at settlements, UK sanctions could put entire Israeli economy at risk 6 US military says Iran war led to munitions shortfall, reveals base and aircraft damage 7 Apparent Houthi attacks trigger alerts in 6 Saudi cities; Riyadh vows response 8 Reporter's Notebook Golan Druze increasingly embrace Israel, reject Syria in seismic shift triggered by tragedy read more: Israel & the Region Gaza City Hamas building collapse Gaza Strip Gaza Civil Defense 2023-2025 Israel-Hamas war If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community. JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY Already a member? 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