A building in Gaza City that had sustained heavy damage in previous Israeli attacks collapsed on September 16, 2026. About six displaced Palestinian families were living in the building, and at least 16 people were killed in the collapse.
More people may have been trapped under the rubble, while Gaza Civil Defense teams continued search-and-rescue efforts. The resources available to clear the rubble and reach those trapped were limited as teams worked among the collapsed sections of the heavily damaged building.
The number of people under the rubble was not confirmed
Initial reports said about 100 people were trapped under the rubble, at least 50 of them children. However, these figures were considered separately from the initial toll of at least 16 deaths and were not presented as a confirmed final count.
The number of deaths and people trapped under the rubble was expected to become clear as search efforts progressed. There was no definitive explanation as to whether the building's collapse on September 16 was caused by a new attack or structural weakness resulting from the previous damage.
Damaged buildings continue to be used as shelters in Gaza
Many buildings damaged or partially destroyed during the war in Gaza continue to be used because safe shelter is inadequate. Limited repair opportunities and a lack of heavy rescue equipment both increase the risks posed by these structures and make it more difficult to reach people trapped under the rubble.
Previous Israeli attacks in Gaza destroyed or heavily damaged homes, schools and buildings used as shelters. The reported deaths of at least 106 civilians, including 54 children, in an attack on the Engineers Building on October 31, 2023, was among the examples of the risks faced by structures used as homes and shelters. That incident was separate from the building collapse on September 16.
