Gaza Civil Defense: Israeli occupation bans excavators, while hundreds of Palestinians face death under rubble

GAZA, Sept. 16 (YPA) – Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal confirmed that the occupation’s refusal to allow the entry of heavy equipment is hindering the recovery of victims from the Al-Saada building, which collapsed at midnight last night on top of dozens of displaced families.

 

He explained that the building consisted of six floors, each with four apartments, and was targeted at the beginning of the war.

 

The fate of about 100 people remains unknown under the rubble, while rescue teams have recovered 11 bodies, including children and women.

 

He pointed out that there are about 2,000 damaged buildings threatened with collapse that are still inhabited due to the lack of alternative housing, calling on the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov, the international community, and the countries guaranteeing the ceasefire to intervene urgently and provide excavators and equipment to prevent new disasters.