‘Nowhere else to go’: Gaza families shelter in buildings that may collapse

What Happened

In Gaza City, Palestinian families are sheltering in war-damaged buildings at risk of collapse because they say they have no alternative housing and cannot afford rent. Masada Abu Jarad, 60, lives with her family under a tent pitched inside a partially collapsed apartment in the Palestine Square area; Abdullah Abu Hajar, 40, his wife and five children live in the severely damaged al-Najma building in the Remal neighbourhood, where about 17 families (50-60 people) reside; and Islam Hassanein, 36, and her five children live in a single cleared room on the third floor of a leaning building. The Palestinian Red Crescent and Civil Defence warned Abu Jarad’s family to leave, but displaced families say they have nowhere to go. A joint assessment by the United Nations, World Bank, and European Union found 371,888 housing units — 76.6% of the housing stock — destroyed or damaged as of October 2025, and estimated reconstruction at over $71bn over the next decade. On September 16, a six-storey war-damaged residential building in Gaza City collapsed, killing 21 people including 12 children, according to the UN and Gaza Civil Defence. The article reports that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, and that Israel has not allowed proper reconstruction.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The shelter crisis illustrates the scale of destruction and the humanitarian consequences of the war beyond direct combat deaths. With 76.6% of housing stock damaged or destroyed and no reconstruction permitted, thousands of families face imminent risk of building collapse; the September 16 collapse demonstrates the lethal consequences. Winter weather will worsen structural stress, and the lack of safe shelter may force further displacement or cause additional casualties.

Watch For

Monitor winter rains and cold weather, which could trigger collapses in Gaza City; any further Civil Defence warnings or building evacuation orders; UN/World Bank/EU updates on housing damage and reconstruction funding; any changes in Israeli policy on entry of construction materials or reconstruction; and reports of additional collapsed buildings and casualties.