Second War-Damaged Building Collapses in Gaza City, Lightly Injuring Four Children; Toll From Wednesday's Al Saada Collapse Revised to 21 Killed

A second war-damaged building collapsed in Gaza City on Friday, September 18, 2026, lightly injuring four children, according to an Associated Press report published the same day marking nearly a year since the October 2025 ceasefire. The death toll from the Wednesday, September 16 collapse of the six-story Al Saada building in Tal al-Hawa -- previously reported as 'at least 20' -- was revised upward to 21 killed. AP quoted displaced residents living in damaged structures: Um Mohammad Adas, a relative of collapse victims, said survivors are 'lying in the street homeless and with absolutely nothing'; resident Ahmad Arafat said 'we don't have money to go somewhere else'; and Alam Zakout said the lack of alternative shelter is 'what forces people to live in these places.' Shaina Low of the Norwegian Refugee Council said Gazans are 'choosing to stay in dangerous buildings because the idea of living in a tent is worse.' Officials estimate roughly 2,000 war-damaged buildings across Gaza remain at risk of collapse, with reconstruction stalled and Israel's military body COGAT continuing to oversee aid and construction-material entry. Gaza's Health Ministry separately reported the cumulative toll since October 7, 2023 at 73,821 killed and 174,897 wounded, including 1,386 killed and 4,784 wounded since the October 2025 ceasefire, with 831 bodies recovered from rubble.