A deadly collapse in a six-story building in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City resulted in the deaths of 21 people, including five children. This incident occurred following damage from Israeli airstrikes, which are related to the ongoing war with Hamas. According to rescue organizations, the building had been damaged in previous attacks and ultimately collapsed last night.
Details of the Building Collapse
According to the Gaza Civil Defense Agency, the building in question, which contained four apartments on each floor, collapsed onto nearby houses and tents, leading to a humanitarian disaster. Rescue teams, after hours of hard work, managed to pull the bodies of 21 individuals from the rubble. The organization also reported that 45 others were transferred to the hospital due to injuries sustained in this incident.
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Reactions and Humanitarian Dimensions
At al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, reporters witnessed men with tearful eyes wrapping the bodies of children in white cloths. Relatives of the victims were bidding farewell to their loved ones and weeping. Ahmad al-Ajla, one of the survivors, stated that "these buildings are nothing but ticking time bombs" and referred to the difficult living conditions in Gaza.
Many residents of Gaza, who have become homeless after previous attacks, are forced to live in damaged buildings. The Gaza Civil Defense Agency had previously announced that around 2,000 buildings in the area are at risk of collapse. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross also responded to this tragedy by stating that it has provided necessary materials to assist in rescue operations at the request of local authorities.
Following extensive Israeli attacks on Gaza, which began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, more than 73,000 people have lost their lives. This tragic statistic has sounded the alarm for the international community and highlights the urgent need for actions to protect civilian lives.
Ramiz Ali Akbarzadeh, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territories, expressed sorrow over this incident and emphasized the need to pay attention to the serious dangers families face in these buildings. He said, "No one should risk their lives to find a safe place to live."
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