Full Breakdown
Gaza Building Collapse Underscores Ongoing Shelter Crisis One Year After Ceasefire
By Drooid · · How we work
The Fatal Collapse
A multistory residential building in Gaza City collapsed, killing 21 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. A separate roof failure later in the week lightly injured four children, the local civil-defense force reported. The building had become a “shelter of last resort” for families who returned to damaged homes after the war.
Background: Stalled Reconstruction After the 2025 Ceasefire
The October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas pledged a reconstruction effort, but talks have faltered. Israel says it will not permit rebuilding until Hamas disarms and continues to block most construction materials, labeling many as “dual-use” items.
Scale of Housing Damage
- A joint World Bank–United Nations assessment in April found that 76 % of residential units had been damaged or destroyed.
- The assessment estimates more than 320,000 homes damaged, affecting 1.7 million of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents.
- 72 % of surveyed households are staying in damaged buildings; in one Gaza City neighborhood, 22 % of structures are judged at imminent risk of collapse.
- The Palestinian Ministry of Public Works reported over 2,000 additional buildings at risk, while OCHA recorded five shelter collapses in the first week of September.
- Engineers warn that rain can flood cracked concrete and exposed rebar, further weakening structures; 71 % of households said they had experienced flooding since the previous winter.
Human Impact
Residents describe having no viable alternatives to unsafe buildings.
“We don’t have money to go somewhere else,” — Ahmad Arafat
“What forces people to live in these places is that there is no shelter other than this shelter. I mean, there are no tents, no basic necessities,” — Alam Zakout
Shaina Low of the Norwegian Refugee Council notes that people stay in dangerous buildings because “the idea of living in a tent is worse, and there are very few tent supplies available.”
Official Statements & Responses
- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted recent shelter collapses and the large number of structures still at risk, urging accelerated humanitarian assistance.
Criticism & Opposition
The Norwegian Refugee Council has called on Israel to allow entry of timber, emergency shelter kits, excavators and other equipment needed to clear debris. Israel rejected such shipments in late August and early September for “security reasons,” leaving more than one million people in unsafe displacement sites.
Why It Matters
The collapse shows the lethal consequences of stalled reconstruction. With most of the population living in damaged or makeshift housing, each bout of rain or structural failure poses a direct threat to civilian lives. Security concerns and humanitarian needs continue to shape daily reality for Gaza’s residents, affecting both immediate safety and the feasibility of rebuilding the enclave’s housing stock.