On February 13, 2026, a large fire broke out in a residential building in Gaza City that also contained warehouses belonging to the Qatari Committee (a humanitarian aid body). The incident occurred on Al-Thawra Street in the Al-Rimal neighborhood. The blaze spread quickly through the lower floors, filling the building with heavy smoke and threatening nearby structures. Because of the siege and Israel’s blockade of firefighting equipment, which authorities describe as part of a genocidal policy, emergency services—already degraded by years of conflict damage—are operating with limited capacity, making it harder to control the blaze.

Response and conditions:

Palestinian Civil Defense crews, helped by police and local residents, worked for several hours (reports say more than 3–8 hours) to control the fire. The response was severely hampered by lack of equipment and resources, which officials link to widespread destruction and restrictions affecting emergency services in Gaza. Firefighters focused mainly on preventing the flames from spreading to surrounding buildings.

Casualties and damage:

Several residents suffered smoke inhalation and were taken for medical treatment. Others were evacuated from the building. The fire caused extensive material damage, including to homes and warehouse contents. Authorities opened an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.