The fire engulfed a building in Jabalia, a few kilometers north of Gaza City. Images from the AFP news agency show how several floors have largely burned down.
It is unclear how the fire started, local authorities say fuel was stored in the building. An eyewitness tells the BBC that people on fire ran out of the building. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks of a “national tragedy”, according to his spokesman.
Palestinian authorities have asked Israel to open the border crossing, normally closed at night, to critically ill patients so they can be treated outside the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has resigned Chirping managed to cooperate with the evacuations and shared his condolences.
With 2.3 million people living in a strip approximately 40 kilometers long and 6 to 12 kilometers wide, the Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. According to the United Nations, 600,000 refugees are currently living in Gaza in eight camps.
