A fatal building collapse in Gaza City this week has brought renewed attention to the ongoing humanitarian and infrastructure crisis in the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 21 people died when a multi-story structure gave way on Wednesday, underscoring the risks faced by many Palestinians living in damaged and unstable homes. Two days later, heavy rain caused the roof of another building in Gaza City to collapse, lightly injuring four children, the local civil defense force reported.
The collapse comes nearly a year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached with the expectation of facilitating reconstruction in the war-battered territory. However, negotiations have stalled, and the reconstruction process remains at a standstill. Israel continues to restrict the entry of most construction materials into Gaza, citing security concerns over potential misuse by militants. These limitations have left residents little choice but to reoccupy buildings that were heavily damaged during earlier conflicts, many of which have weakened foundations and cracked walls.
Families affected by the latest collapse described their desperate circumstances. Um Mohammed Adas, whose relatives were among the victims, said the collapsed building had served as a last refuge for those with nowhere else to go. “Now, they are lying in the street homeless and with absolutely nothing,” she said, adding that survivors were left wearing borrowed clothes. Others living near the collapse site spoke of economic hardship and the lack of alternative shelter options. Ahmad Arafat said, “We don’t have money to go somewhere else,” while Alam Zakout emphasized, “There are no tents, no basic necessities... Where am I supposed to go? I have nothing other than this house.”
The humanitarian situation is dire, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting that five shelters collapsed during the first week of September alone. The Palestinian Ministry of Public Works has identified over 2,000 additional buildings at risk of collapse across Gaza. The vast majority of the enclave’s 2.1 million residents face the ongoing threat of living in unsafe conditions, as reconstruction efforts have not progressed significantly.
According to a joint damage assessment released in April by the World Bank and the United Nations, 76 percent of residential units in Gaza were damaged or destroyed during recent hostilities, creating what the report called a "catastrophic" loss of housing stock. More than 1 million people remain displaced, many residing in tent camps lacking basic sanitation and with limited access to shelter supplies.
Humanitarian organizations warn that the shelter crisis is compounded by the lack of materials needed for repairs and reconstruction. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has highlighted that attempts to deliver timber and emergency shelter kits to Gaza were twice blocked by Israeli authorities in late August and early September. NRC spokesperson Shaina Low noted that Palestinians risk living in unsafe buildings because living in tents is seen as an even worse option, especially as supplies to improve conditions are scarce.
Experts also caution that damaged buildings are particularly vulnerable to collapse during adverse weather, with rainwater seeping through cracks and corroding structural elements. A recent survey found that 72 percent of Gaza residents were living in damaged buildings, with 22 percent of structures in one Gaza City neighborhood deemed at imminent risk of collapse. Flooding has affected 71 percent of people surveyed since the previous winter, both in tents and damaged buildings.
Aid groups continue to call on Israel to ease restrictions on construction and shelter materials to address Gaza’s shelter crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for timber, emergency kits, and equipment capable of clearing dangerous rubble and supporting reconstruction efforts. Israel maintains that such materials are potential dual-use goods that could be exploited by militant groups, a position that has so far impeded significant progress toward rebuilding the enclave’s infrastructure.