At least 21 people, including 10 children, have been killed after a fire broke out on Thursday evening in a three-story building in the northern Gaza Strip, Hamas said in a statement.

The fire erupted on the third floor of a three-story building in the crowded Jabaliya refugee camp, according to the statement.

The Civil Defense in Gaza said the fire was caused by gasoline that was being stored in the building.

It was not immediately clear how the gasoline ignited.

Meanwhile, the head of the Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniyeh extended condolences to the families of the victims and highlighted that this horrible incident reminds the Palestinians of the consequences of the israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

 “The israeli occupation bans rescue teams in Gaza from having advanced equipment needed to deal with such a big fire,” Haniyeh said.

Haniyeh called on the international community to pressure the Israeli occupation to lift the 15-year Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

The top Hamas official emphasized that the movement would side with and support the families of the deceased Palestinian citizens. (ILKHA)