However, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

At least 21 people, including seven children, have been killed in a massive fire that broke out in a house north of Gaza City.

Hamas Islamists, who control the Israeli-blockade Palestinian enclave.

He said that firefighters have succeeded in controlling the fire in Jabaliya.

Gaza's civil defense unit confirmed the death of 21 people in a statement.

The head of the Indonesian hospital in Jabaliya, Saleh Abu Laila, told AFP that the hospital had received the bodies of at least seven children.

However, the cause of the fire could not be ascertained.

A spokesman for the civil protection unit told AFP that fuel was stored in the house.

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Israeli-occupied West Bank - a separate Palestinian territory - considered the fire "a national tragedy".

Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudineh said in a statement that Abbas declared Friday a day of mourning.

Flags would fly at half-mast and offered to send aid to the families of the victims to "ease their suffering".

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Senior PA official Hussein al-Sheikh urged Israel to open the Erez crossing.

Actually it connects Gaza with southern Israel and it is usually closed at night.

Al Sheikh said that the opening of this will allow seriously injured patients to be sent for treatment outside the Gaza Strip if necessary.

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