DEIR AL-BALAH — A deadly building collapse in Gaza has exposed the continuing danger faced by families living in structures weakened during the war, nearly a year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was supposed to open the way to reconstruction.

The Associated Press reported that 21 people were killed when a multistorey building in Gaza City collapsed on Wednesday. The Gaza Health Ministry said 11 of the dead were children. The collapse was not described as a new airstrike; the building had already been damaged and was being used as shelter.

The disaster reflects a wider problem. AP reported that many Palestinians have moved back into hundreds of thousands of homes damaged during the war despite unstable foundations and walls. Aid groups have urged Israel to allow more shelter and reconstruction materials into Gaza, while Israel has cited security reasons for restricting some materials.

The ceasefire’s promise of reconstruction has not translated into safe housing for much of the population. As talks have faltered, families have continued to live among damaged structures because the alternatives are limited, temporary or already overcrowded. That turns the built environment into a continuing humanitarian risk rather than a backdrop to the conflict.

The confirmed facts are stark but specific: a damaged building collapsed, 21 people died, 11 of them children, and the territory’s shelter crisis remains unresolved. The collapse is a warning about unsafe homes and stalled rebuilding — not evidence that a new strike caused this particular death toll.

Reporting note: this article is based on the source record listed above and is current as of 18 September 2026, 16:50 BST. Figures, operational claims and casualty counts may change as authorities update their accounts.