16/09/2026

Press Release

Aldameer: The Collapse of Al-Saada Building Is a Direct Result of Israeli Occupation Policies and the Targeting of Civilian Objects

Aldameer Association for Human Rights – Gaza: In light of the continued Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip, the limited availability of safe shelter, and the lack of necessary and adequate sheltering capacities, the risk of the collapse of damaged buildings and residential structures remains present, requiring urgent measures to protect the lives of civilians.

According to the information available to Aldameer Association for Human Rights, in the early hours of Wednesday, 16 September 2026, the “Al-Saada Building,” a six-story residential building, with each floor consisting of four residential apartments, collapsed. The building had sustained damage and cracks as a result of the bombardment during the war, while displaced families had been forced to reside in it amid the ongoing housing and displacement crisis and the destruction of large numbers of residential units in the Gaza Strip. Parts of the building also collapsed onto tents for displaced persons that had been erected adjacent to it. According to preliminary information issued by the spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, Mahmoud Bassal, the collapse resulted in the death of 20 citizens, including 6 children, while more than 60 citizens remain trapped under the rubble, amid ongoing search and rescue operations.

Aldameer confirms that this building had been directly targeted by the occupation forces during the war and had since become a structure at risk of collapse and unfit for human habitation. Due to the lack of places to accommodate displaced persons, the displaced persons were forced to seek refuge in it despite their awareness of the imminent danger.

Aldameer also confirms that the restrictions imposed on the entry of equipment and machinery necessary for the Civil Defense and rescue teams, in light of the existence of thousands of damaged buildings, threaten the continued collapse of residential buildings housing citizens.

Aldameer Association for Human Rights holds the Israeli occupation forces fully legally responsible for the collapse incident and the consequences resulting from their policies and military actions that led to the destruction of and severe damage to civilian buildings and facilities, deprived residents of safe housing, and created living conditions that put the lives of civilians at risk. Accordingly, Aldameer calls for:

– The international community to take immediate and effective action to stop the crimes of the Israeli occupation against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects, and halt killings, targeting, destruction, and forced displacement operations.

– The parties guaranteeing the ceasefire agreement to exert pressure on the occupation to allow the entry of equipment for the removal of rubble and the rehabilitation of facilities that can be repaired, thereby ensuring the protection of residents and creating safe housing conditions.

– The United Nations, its agencies, and international institutions to provide safe and dignified alternatives for affected and displaced families, such as mobile homes (caravans) and fiberglass tents, as a temporary alternative for citizens.

Aldameer Association for Human Rights – Gaza