Official: The bloody Gaza fire was caused by a hoax at a party
Investigators said on Sunday that a massive fire that broke out last week in an apartment in the Gaza Strip was accidentally started by a man using petrol in a celebratory prank, but did not say how they reached that conclusion.
The fire killed 22 members of the same family and there were no survivors who could describe the events.
The fire broke out on Thursday in an apartment on the third floor of the Abu Raya family home in the crowded Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
Officials initially said 21 people were killed.
Gaza Attorney General Muhammad al-Nahhal said on Sunday that the death toll had reached 22, without elaborating.
He added to reporters that Nader Abu Raya had invited his parents, brothers and their children to celebrate the return of his older brother from a trip abroad.
With all the guests at the family home together, the beekeeper said, Nadir began in the living room setting up what was referred to as a party trick involving gasoline.
"The cause of the fire was a rare use of petrol in a festive display of fire during the ceremony," the public prosecutor said in a statement.
"Nader lost control and the flame reached the nearby petrol tank and the fire broke out," he added.
The dead were from three generations: a married couple, their five sons, their daughter, and two wives with two of their children, and at least 11 grandchildren.
Neighbors tried to reach the burning floor but were delayed because the outside door of the three-story building was locked.
Investigators spoke with one of Nader Abu Raya's relatives, a woman who does not live in the building.
The woman said that Nader liked to perform tricks at parties using fire.
No questions were allowed after the Attorney General's statement.
The Public Prosecutor showed pre-recorded video clips from Nader's phone.
He said the videos showed a house filled with potentially flammable items, including painted tires hanging from the ceiling.
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