At least 12 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 were reported missing Wednesday after a heavily damaged apartment building collapsed in Gaza City, according to Hamas-run authorities in the Strip.

The six-story building, located in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City, collapsed overnight onto nearby homes and tents where displaced Palestinians were staying.

Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defense, said the building had previously sustained significant structural damage from Israeli strikes. He said it had been struck multiple times in 2024 and again in March 2025, and residents had previously been warned against returning to the structure.

“At least 12 martyrs, including five children, have been recovered so far,” Basal said, adding that more than 100 people were believed to remain missing.

Rescue crews continued searching through the rubble Wednesday, with officials warning that the death toll could rise as additional victims are located.

The building contained four apartments on each of its six floors and was reportedly sheltering numerous displaced families despite its severely damaged condition.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)