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War-Damaged Gaza Building Collapses, Killing 20 People Sheltering Inside

Ambulance crews transport injured Palestinians to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, 15 September 2026. EPA/HAITHAM IMAD
Ambulance crews transport injured Palestinians to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, 15 September 2026. EPA/HAITHAM IMAD
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War-Damaged Gaza Building Collapses, Killing 20 People Sheltering Inside

Ambulance crews transport injured Palestinians to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, 15 September 2026. EPA/HAITHAM IMAD
Ambulance crews transport injured Palestinians to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, 15 September 2026. EPA/HAITHAM IMAD

Gaza rescuers on Wednesday searched through the wreckage of a bombed-out apartment building that collapsed overnight, killing at least 20 Palestinians including children and trapping dozens of others beneath the rubble. 

Tens of thousands of Palestinians are living in some 2,000 buildings damaged by Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. 

Rescue workers from Gaza's civil defense said at least 20 people, including six children, were killed and 14 others injured when the seven-storey building collapsed. Nearly 100 more people were believed to be under the rubble. 

A video obtained by Reuters showed rescue workers trying to pull out two people from under a collapsed wall. Another video on social media showed Gaza's civil defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal carrying a little girl, wrapped in a blood-stained scarf. 

Raed Al-Dahshan, the director of Gaza City's civil defense service, said at least 10 ‌families lived in ‌the collapsed building and there was still hope of finding survivors. 

"We are still hearing voices ‌from ⁠under the rubble," ⁠said Dahshan. 

Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Program's Gaza office, said some UN agencies were taking part in the rescue efforts, which he described as difficult due to the lack of proper machinery. Egypt's relief agency was also helping. 

"The situation, as you see, is tragic because we don't have the equipment and machinery that is needed. So there are actually people that are digging with their bare hands," said Mrakic. 

"There are approximately 400 buildings at risk of collapse. And we know that these buildings will collapse, especially now with the upcoming winter," he added, referring to the potential impact of rain. 

Inside Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, relatives ⁠and friends said their farewells to many of those who died before walking with the bodies ‌to their graves. 

"This martyr is my uncle, Abdallah Abdel Rahman al-Ejlah. He was ‌martyred along with his entire family; his children, his wife, as well as his daughters and grandchildren," said Bashir Abu Al-Shaar, a ‌nephew of one of the dead. 

"My uncle did not find a place in which he can live with ‌his family due to the crowdedness in shelter centers, so he had to live inside this building which (he knew) could collapse," he said, as he stood by the shrouded bodies. 

MACHINERY SHORTAGE 

Palestinian and UN officials blame Israel's restrictions on Gaza for the lack of heavy machinery. Israel says its curbs aim to keep equipment out of the hands of militants. 

"Today’s tragedy underscores the grave risks faced by families living in ‌these structures and the urgent need for safer alternatives. No one should have to risk their life simply to find a safe place to shelter," said Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Humanitarian ⁠Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian ⁠Territory. 

Israel's assault on Gaza — launched after Hamas' deadly raid into Israel in October 2023 — has generated around 61 million tons of wreckage and debris that could take seven years to clear, according to the United Nations. 

Dahshan warned residents to stay away from wrecked buildings due to the risk of collapse. The local rescue service says about 2,000 damaged buildings are inhabited by families. 

Many families have told Reuters in the past months that they resorted to living in partially damaged buildings to protect themselves against wind and rainstorms, and because of the lack of new tents for the homeless. 

An October 2025 US-backed ceasefire halted large-scale fighting in Gaza, but it has not ended Israeli strikes and there has been little progress on steps towards permanent peace. 

Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and undermining efforts to implement US President Donald Trump's broader plan to end the Gaza conflict, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the disarmament of Hamas. 

Israel says Hamas has been violating the deal. 

More than 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to the territory's health officials, while the Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have been killed. 

Hamas does not usually disclose information about fatalities among its fighters. 

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Arab World

South Lebanon Blasts Threaten Landscape, Could Activate Fault Lines; Beirut to File UN Complaint

Smoke rises from the town of Halta following Israeli shelling (National News Agency)
Smoke rises from the town of Halta following Israeli shelling (National News Agency)
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South Lebanon Blasts Threaten Landscape, Could Activate Fault Lines; Beirut to File UN Complaint

Smoke rises from the town of Halta following Israeli shelling (National News Agency)
Smoke rises from the town of Halta following Israeli shelling (National News Agency)

Israeli forces pushed into the border town of Halta in South Lebanon on Wednesday before withdrawing to its outskirts after conducting searches and sweeps, amid reports that a local resident had been abducted.

The incursion came as Lebanese concern mounted over the scale of Israeli demolitions in the south, with Environment Minister Tamara El Zein warning that their repercussions could extend beyond direct destruction to geological risks affecting public safety.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli forces withdrew from Halta after entering the town Wednesday morning, amid reports that resident Fadi Abdel Aal had been abducted. Troops searched several homes and conducted sweeps with machine guns, while bulldozers razed olive groves.

Israeli forces also blew up several houses, while other homes were reportedly vandalized and solar panels on the ground and rooftops smashed. Three mortar shells struck the town, including one near homes. Powerful explosions heard across several villages in the Arqoub area were traced to demolitions carried out by Israeli forces inside Halta.

The operation followed previous Israeli incursions, searches, arrests and bulldozing in Halta and its surroundings. The town lies in the Arqoub area of Hasbaya district, near Kfar Shuba, the Kfar Shuba Hills and Shebaa Farms, in a geographically and militarily sensitive border area.

Israel says its operations in South Lebanon are intended to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its capabilities near the border.

Elsewhere, Israeli artillery struck the outskirts of Kfar Shuba and Kfar Tibnit in Nabatieh. In the western sector, Israeli forces carried out powerful demolitions in Mansouri, south of Tyre, following similar explosions targeting homes and valleys at dawn that caused strong tremors felt in neighboring villages.

Geological concerns

El Zein warned that the succession of massive Israeli explosions posed risks beyond the extensive destruction they caused, citing potential geological damage and ground disturbances.

She pointed to the demolition of the Ali al-Taher ridge two weeks ago using about 1,100 tons of explosives. According to data from Lebanon’s National Center for Geophysics, she noted, the blast generated seismic waves comparable to a magnitude 4.2 earthquake.

El Zein highlighted the site’s proximity to the Roum Fault, about one kilometer away, and the Yammouneh Fault, about seven kilometers away, arguing that the location and scale of the explosion raised additional concerns.

She also cited the demolition in Majdal Zoun using about 80 tons of explosives, which generated waves comparable to a magnitude 3.1 tremor and, according to her, physically split the town in two.

Another explosion near Beaufort Castle involved about 700 tons of explosives and generated waves comparable to a magnitude 3.8 tremor, with vibrations felt at considerable distances, she added.

The minister cautioned that massive underground explosions could, under certain geological conditions and particularly near existing faults, cause movement or reactivate faults, potentially increasing seismic risks.

She stressed that the inability to determine with certainty the future consequences of such effects did not mean the risks should be minimized or ignored.

‘Reshaping the geography’

El Zein argued that the scale of the explosions should not be measured solely by their immediate destruction, describing the operations as going beyond their direct military dimension to the “reshaping of geography.”

She warned that violent ground motion could damage the natural and built environment, infrastructure and homes across a wide area.

The minister linked the explosions to what she described as “ecocide,” stressing that the Lebanese state and government must respond to the scale of the damage and risks rather than merely document and catalogue what she called war crimes.

El Zein presented the findings and concerns to the Cabinet, which tasked her with preparing a detailed report on the repercussions of the explosions. The report will be submitted to the Foreign Ministry for referral to the UN Security Council and other relevant international bodies.

Arab World

Sisi-Abbas Cairo Summit: Palestinian Reconciliation a Priority in Coming Period

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assured his Palestinian counterpart on Wednesday of Egypt’s support for the Palestinian Authority (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assured his Palestinian counterpart on Wednesday of Egypt’s support for the Palestinian Authority (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi-Abbas Cairo Summit: Palestinian Reconciliation a Priority in Coming Period

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assured his Palestinian counterpart on Wednesday of Egypt’s support for the Palestinian Authority (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assured his Palestinian counterpart on Wednesday of Egypt’s support for the Palestinian Authority (Egyptian Presidency)

Palestinian reconciliation featured prominently in talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with Cairo reaffirming its support for “efforts to achieve consensus among Palestinian factions.”

A Palestinian official told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that the summit was part of longstanding Egyptian efforts to heal internal Palestinian divisions ahead of elections scheduled for November and could pave the way for an intra-Palestinian dialogue in Egypt.

The official expected reconciliation to become a priority in the coming period as Palestinians prepare for the phase following Israel’s elections in October.

During the summit, Cairo affirmed that it would continue working with mediators to implement the agreement to end the war in Gaza reached at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in October 2025. It stressed the need for all parties to abide by its terms, including halting escalation, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid and creating conditions for early recovery and reconstruction.

Al-Sisi affirmed “Egypt’s support for the Palestinian National Authority and for efforts to achieve consensus among the various Palestinian factions in a way that serves the interests of the Palestinian people,” according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

The two sides also agreed to intensify political coordination at all levels in the coming period.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Abbas told al-Sisi during their meeting at Cairo’s Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday that efforts would continue to renew national legitimacy through upcoming elections. He reiterated his rejection of any infringement on the unity of Palestinian territory or the sovereign institutions of the State of Palestine.

“Gaza is an integral part of our state, there is no alternative to Palestinian legitimacy, and we will not allow the separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” Abbas stressed.

PLO Executive Committee member Wasel Abu Youssef told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Abbas-Sisi summit was important given the circumstances facing the Palestinian cause, particularly because part of the talks concerned internal Palestinian arrangements, including national dialogue.

He noted that Egypt had consistently sought to ensure the success of such talks and had hosted numerous rounds aimed at healing divisions, ending internal rifts and achieving national unity before elections.

“National dialogue and ending the division are particularly important at this time,” Abu Youssef explained, noting that talks were underway among several factions with the aim of expanding them into a comprehensive national dialogue involving all factions.

He suggested this could take the form of a meeting of faction leaders, as held previously, or a broader call for dialogue, adding that “the most appropriate venue is Egypt.”

Abu Youssef expressed hope that a comprehensive national dialogue involving all sides could produce practical mechanisms to reorganize Palestinian internal affairs and end the division.

Such a process, he added, should affirm the unity of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem, as well as the responsibility of the Palestinian legitimate authority for all those territories, as preparations continue for upcoming elections.

He cited legislative elections scheduled for Nov. 28, provided the Israeli government does not obstruct them, particularly in Gaza.

Abu Youssef further maintained that it was in everyone’s interest to respond to Cairo’s efforts to heal the rift and for national dialogue to convene before the elections.

More importantly, he argued, the talks should produce results commensurate with current challenges and risks, reorganize Palestinian internal affairs on the basis of comprehensive national unity, uphold Palestinian rights and principles, and preserve representation through the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to unify the Palestinian ranks. Cairo has sponsored several rounds of talks, but none has produced a final agreement.

Arab World

Guterres Backs Libya’s Endorsement of ‘4+4’ Agreement Despite High Council of State Objection

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her deputy, Stephanie Koury meet members of the Political Dialogue and Reconciliation Team in Tripoli on Tuesday (UNSMIL) 
UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her deputy, Stephanie Koury meet members of the Political Dialogue and Reconciliation Team in Tripoli on Tuesday (UNSMIL) 
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Guterres Backs Libya’s Endorsement of ‘4+4’ Agreement Despite High Council of State Objection

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her deputy, Stephanie Koury meet members of the Political Dialogue and Reconciliation Team in Tripoli on Tuesday (UNSMIL) 
UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her deputy, Stephanie Koury meet members of the Political Dialogue and Reconciliation Team in Tripoli on Tuesday (UNSMIL) 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the Libyan House of Representatives’ endorsement of the “4+4” Smaller Convening Agreement signed between Libyan conflict parties on August 30 to pave the way for long-awaited national election.

In a press briefing by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said the House of Representatives' approval of the agreement represents “an important step to move things forward,” contributing to efforts to resolve the ongoing political deadlock in Libya.

Libya’s House of Representatives approved the agreement unanimously on Monday during a session in Benghazi chaired by Speaker Aguila Saleh.

In return, head of the High Council of State, Mohamed Takala sent a letter to Guterres objecting to the recent move by the UN mission in Tripoli concerning the political process and bodies related to elections.

He said the mission gathered a limited number of people who do not legitimately represent sovereign institutions.

Takala also said those people prepared a document about the structure of the political process and the formation of bodies involved in elections, a move he described as “an overstep of the UN’s facilitating role and an interference in Libya’s internal affairs and sovereignty.”

The head of the High Council of State urged building on the consensus achieved by the “6+6” committee instead of pursuing parallel processes that could deepen divisions.

Takala then asked Guterres to ensure the UN mission adheres to its mandate and respects Libya’s political agreement and state sovereignty.

He requested that the mission not legitimize bodies with limited representation and to reverse its recent action.

On August 30, the 4+4 Committee signed the final agreement during an official ceremony at the UNSMIL headquarters in Tripoli to restructure the board of Libya’s High National Elections Commission, address disputed issues related to the legal framework for presidential and parliamentary elections, and hold the votes under a single executive authority and unified national institutions within a maximum of 24 months.

Earlier this month, UNSMIL said it had formally referred the agreement to the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, giving the two bodies one month from the date of its signing to approve it.

Dr Saleh Al-Makhzoum, a law professor at the University of Tripoli accused some members of the High Council of State of objecting to the UN-sponsored agreement only to “buy time,” as happened during the Skhirat Agreement, signed in Morocco in 2015 to end Libya's civil war and political split.

“Those members ignore the changing motives of the international community towards the Libyan crisis,” he wrote on his Facebook account.

Al-Makhzoum warned that Libya is currently facing a “more complicated” situation due to the overlap of security, economy, oil and international race. He warned that disrupting the 4+4 agreement, or reigniting disputes through the 6+6 committee may narrow Libya’s options.

Meanwhile, the UN mission in Libya continues to intensify contacts with political forces, officials and youth from different regions, to broaden support for the 4+4 agreement.

In this regard, UN Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs Stephanie Koury met on Tuesday a delegation of young people from Zawiya, Sorman, Sabratha, Ajileat and Tripoli to discuss the political process, including the Smaller Convening agreement and the outcomes of the Structured Dialogue.

Participants shared their views on youth inclusion and the challenges facing Libya’s path to national elections. The group welcomed the Smaller Convening agreement as a positive step, while expressing concern about the challenges of its implementation. They also stressed the need for broader inclusion, particularly of young people, in political and decision-making processes.

In another meeting, Koury and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh discussed the latest political and economic developments with members of the Political Dialogue and Reconciliation Team.

The UN mission stated that the two sides exchanged views on recent economic and political developments, including the agreement reached during the “mini-meeting,” the outcomes of the structured dialogue, and the next steps in the political process facilitated by the UNSMIL.

The delegation shared its initiative aimed at overcoming the political stalemate and building broad-based support to advance the political process, emphasizing the importance of accelerating efforts to address the challenges facing the Libyan people.