The 21 individuals killed in a fireplace throughout a party at a residential constructing in a refugee camp within the Gaza Strip have been members of the identical household.
Thousands of mourners joined a funeral procession as they carried the shrouded our bodies, together with no less than eight youngsters, by way of the streets of Gaza.
Those killed in final night time’s blaze within the four-storey constructing within the Jabaliya refugee camp have been members of the Abu Raya household.
Their our bodies have been wrapped in Palestinian flags and brought right into a mosque for prayers, earlier than being buried on the Cemetery of Martyrs east of the refugee camp in a navy funeral.
Officials in Hamas-run Gaza mentioned an preliminary investigation revealed massive quantities of petrol had been saved on the website and apparently fuelled the blaze. The Interior Ministry mentioned it was not clear how the petrol ignited.
The fireplace tore by way of the top-floor house of the constructing, which was house to the Abu Raya household.
Mohammed Abu Raya, a household spokesperson, advised the Associated Press the prolonged household had gathered for joint celebrations – the birthday of one of many youngsters and the return of one of many adults from a visit to Egypt.
‘No one got here out alive’
Mr Abu Raya challenged assertions that saved petrol fuelled the blaze. He mentioned furnishings made out of flammable supplies was extra prone to have accelerated the flames.
“The disaster was that no one came out alive to tell us the truth of things,” he mentioned.
“I do not think that it was stored gasoline.”
Those who died within the fireplace have been from three generations: a pair, their 5 sons and one daughter, two daughters-in-law and 11 grandchildren, in keeping with Mr Abu Raya and Mohammed Jadallah, who had married into the household.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas mentioned it was a nationwide tragedy and declared a day of mourning.
Jabalia is one among eight refugee camps in Gaza, which is house to 2.3 million individuals and one of many world’s most densely populated areas.
Gaza faces a crippling vitality disaster underneath the stress of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
People often retailer petrol and cooking fuel of their properties in preparation for winter, and home fires have beforehand been sparked by candles and fuel leaks.
Source: information.sky.com”