Mourners pray for 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family who died in a fire in their apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)Ambulances carry the bodies of 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family who died in a fire in their apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Officials in Hamas-run Gaza have said Thursday night’s blaze in a three-story residential building in the Jabaliya refugee camp was apparently fueled by stored gasoline. They said it was not clear how the gasoline ignited, and that an investigation is underway.
Ambulances carry the bodies some of the 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family killed a fire in their apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)The building where a fire broke out in the top floor apartment, killing 21 members of the Abu Raya family in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
It was one of the deadliest incidents in Gaza in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The blaze destroyed the top-floor apartment in the building, home to the Abu Raya family.
Mourners pray for 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family who died in a fire in their apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)Members of the police and civil defense stand in front of a three story building where a deadly fire broke out in the Jebaliya refugee camp, killing 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family in the northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Mohammed Abu Raya, a family spokesman, told The Associated Press that the extended family had gathered for twin celebrations — the birthday of one of the children and the return of one of the adults from a trip to Egypt.
Mourners pray for 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family who died in a fire in their apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)Hamas police officers and medics move one of 21 bodies from the Abu Raya family who were killed in a fire, at the morgue of the hospital during their funeral in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Abu Raya spoke at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, where the bodies had been taken and where sobbing relatives were waiting for funeral processions to begin.
Abu Raya challenged assertions that stored gasoline fueled the blaze, saying furniture made from flammable materials was more likely to have accelerated the flames.
Relatives mourn the 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family who were killed in a fire in their apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
“The disaster was that no one came out alive to tell us the truth of things,” he said. “I do not think that it was stored gasoline.”
Members of the police and civil defense stand in front of a three story building where a deadly fire broke out in the Jebaliya refugee camp, killing 21 members of the Palestinian Abu Raya family in the northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)Hamas police officers and mourners move one of the 21 bodies from the Abu Raya family killed in a fire in their apartment building, at the morgue of the hospital during their funeral in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Those killed were from three generations — a couple, their five sons and one daughter, two daughters-in-law and 11 grandchildren, according to Abu Raya and Mohammed Jadallah who had married into the Abu Raya family.
Mourners carry five of the bodies from 21 members of the Abu Raya family where killed in a fire, during their funeral in front of the mosque in Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)Hamas police officers and medics stand near two bodies of 21 bodies from the Abu Raya family who were killed in a fire, at the morgue of the hospital during their funeral in Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Gaza faces a severe energy crisis, largely because of a crippling Israeli-Egyptian border blockade that has been in place since the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of the territory 15 years ago.
Mourners carry members of the Abu Raya family who were killed in a fire, during their funeral in front of the mosque in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
People often store cooking gas, diesel and gasoline in homes in preparation for winter. House fires have previously been caused by candles and gas leaks.
Mourners carry members of the Abu Raya family who were killed in a fire, during their funeral in front of the mosque in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
