Full Breakdown
Saada Building Collapse Deepens Trauma for Gaza Family Amid Ongoing Shelter Crisis
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Collapse of the Saada Building
In the pre-dawn hours, the six-storey Saada building in eastern Gaza City collapsed in less than ten seconds, killing 21 people—including 12 children—and injuring dozens. Among the victims were Islam Azzam, seven months pregnant, and her three-year-old son Rizq. Their seven-year-old son Abdulrahman and nine-year-old daughter Ferial were rescued after hours trapped under the rubble, while their father Iyad Azzam survived in a nearby tent. The building, already damaged by earlier Israeli strikes in 2023, had become a refuge for at least 70 displaced residents, most of them children, because of a lack of alternative shelter.
Background: Displacement and Unsafe Shelters
Since the October 2023 conflict began, the United Nations estimates that roughly 90 % of Gaza’s housing units have been damaged or destroyed, forcing the 2.2 million-strong population into makeshift tents and temporary structures. The Azzam family, originally from the Shuja'iyya neighbourhood, had been living in a tent after their home was destroyed. Anticipating winter rains, they moved into Saada to escape flooding. The building’s precarious condition reflected a broader pattern: the Shelter Cluster, led by the Norwegian Refugee Council, reports that 94 % of Gaza’s population still needs shelter assistance, and Palestinian Civil Defence identifies more than 2,000 structures as imminently at risk of collapse.
Data & Statistics
- 21 fatalities in the Saada collapse, including 12 children.
- 45 people rescued with injuries.
- 61 total Palestinian deaths from building collapses since the war began.
- 1.98 million Palestinians (94 % of the population) still require shelter and basic aid.
- 2,000+ buildings classified as needing urgent intervention or demolition.
- In Khan Younis, 474 structures are slated for demolition, with 330 requiring complete removal.
Official Statements & Responses
Abdullah al-Majdalawi, director of public relations and media at Gaza Civil Defence, warned that the approaching winter and heavy rains could trigger further collapses. He said the Israeli occupation continues to restrict the entry of heavy machinery needed to dismantle unsafe buildings, despite the October 2025 ceasefire agreement that obligates Israel to permit such equipment. Majdalawi emphasized that each day the damaged structures remain standing increases the danger to displaced residents.
Verbatim Quotes
- “On the night before the building collapsed, my wife asked me if she could sleep at the apartment where her family was displaced because we were expecting rain,” — Iyad Azzam, father.
- “Every day that these buildings remain standing is another day that people are exposed to this danger,” — Abdullah al-Majdalawi, Civil Defence spokesperson.
Future Risks
Majdalawi cautioned that without the removal of compromised structures before the rainy season, additional casualties are likely. He called on the occupying authorities to lift restrictions on heavy equipment, arguing that continued inaction turns the remaining buildings into “graves for the displaced.”