Hendra Wijaya
A war-damaged residential structure collapsed early Wednesday in western Gaza City, killing at least 21 Palestinians and laying bare the deadly risks faced by families forced to take shelter inside compromised ruins. The disaster at the al-Saada building unfolded suddenly in the early morning hours, burying multiple families beneath tons of crushed concrete and twisted metal.
The catastrophic incident has triggered an agonized search and recovery effort, with emergency responders and local residents digging through the debris under immense physical strain. At al-Shifa Hospital, grieving relatives have gathered in growing numbers, desperate for updates on loved ones still missing beneath the wreckage while coping with the sudden loss of entire family branches.
Among the survivors is 37-year-old Hayat al-Ajlah, who was inside the building with her family when the multi-story structure abruptly failed. Recounting the horrific moment, she explained that she had just woken up to check her mobile phone when she detected an ominous cracking noise, followed immediately by the sensation that the flooring was giving way beneath their feet.
Within moments, the entire edifice crumbled, engulfing the occupants in blinding dust and darkness. Trapped in the tight voids of the rubble, Hayat could hear her 74-year-old father desperately calling out the name of her 12-year-old son, Yasser, before his voice abruptly went silent. In total panic, she screamed out for her four children as debris pressed down around them.
For nearly an hour, civil defence workers and local neighbours laboured frantically to extricate survivors from the unstable debris pile. Hayat and her four children were eventually pulled out alive, surviving what she described as a miracle because they happened to be positioned on the side of the building that tilted rather than completely pancake. However, her eight-year-old daughter, Dalia, sustained severe head injuries and required immediate hospitalization.
The human toll on the al-Ajlah family was devastating. Nine members of Hayat’s extended family were killed in the collapse, including both of her parents, four of her siblings, and three of her young nieces and nephews. Those who were situated in the central section of the structure stood little chance as consecutive upper floors pancaked down upon each other.
Like thousands of others in the enclave, the family had endured multiple displacements prior to the tragedy. They had previously fled their home in Gaza City's Shujayea neighbourhood to seek safety in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, before returning to the northern territory roughly two months ago in search of shelter.
Confronted with an acute shortage of housing options and an overwhelming shelter crisis that has left vast swathes of the population languishing in makeshift street tents, the family opted to occupy an empty, heavily damaged apartment on the building's third floor. A family acquaintance had notified Hayat’s father of the vacancy, offering what seemed like a vital chance to escape the harsh weather and squalor of tent living.
The tragedy struck at a particularly heartbreaking time for the family, as numerous relatives had gathered at the residence to make preparations for an upcoming family wedding scheduled for the following week. Instead of celebrating, the family was virtually wiped out or severely wounded in a matter of seconds.
Hayat noted that the structure had exhibited clear warning signs prior to its ultimate failure. Her mother had openly expressed persistent fear regarding the building's structural integrity, and her father had been actively looking for an alternative place for the family to relocate before the collapse occurred.
The devastation extended to other families residing in the complex, including the Saada family. At al-Shifa Hospital, Umm Mahmoud Saada, a woman in her 70s, openly wept after learning that her 38-year-old son Mahmoud, his wife, and all seven of their children—six daughters and one son—had perished together under the ruins.
Mahmoud had spent months displaced in southern Gaza before returning to Gaza City just one month earlier. Exhausted from living in a roadside tent and facing severe financial distress, he accepted a relative's suggestion to move his family into the al-Saada building on a temporary basis, unaware of the fatal hazard it posed.
His mother recounted their final conversation, noting that he had visited her just the day before to share a meal and participate in the afternoon prayer together. She lamented the relentless cycle of loss consuming families across the territory, expressing deep despair at the sudden eradication of her son's entire household.
Rescue operations at the site have faced severe delays and complications due to a catastrophic lack of heavy machinery and essential excavation tools. First responders and civilian volunteers, including local resident Mansour Bakroun who rushed to the scene immediately following the collapse, have been forced to sift through heavy slabs of concrete largely by hand.
The catastrophe highlights the worsening peril confronting displaced Palestinians who return to find their home districts reduced to ruins. With ongoing restrictions on the entry of reconstruction materials and heavy equipment, displaced families are frequently left with no viable choice other than enduring unlivable tents or seeking refuge in structurally compromised buildings that remain prone to sudden, lethal collapse.
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