[Jpost] Images reportedly from the scene showed heavily damaged structures and a smoke cloud that could be seen from a distance. A number of smaller booms could be heard in video reportedly showing the moments leading up to the larger explosion.The Hamas Interior Ministry stated that the explosion occurred in a multi-story house in the market, leading to the collapse of large parts of the home and damage to nearby homes and shops.
Explosions caused by weapons stored in civilian homes have occurred in Gaza in the past.
IDF spokesperson for Arabic media Avichay Adraee tweeted on Thursday, claiming the explosion was a result of a mishap in a weapons depot of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
In January, an explosion destroyed a home in Gaza where terrorists were attempting to prepare explosives. At the time, Avichay Adraee, the IDF spokesperson for Arabic media, said on Twitter that "the story of the house is the story of many homes in the Gaza Strip," that are being used for weapons storage.
"They have turned [homes] into warehouses of weapons, military parts and missiles for terrorist organizations and the people who pay the price in the end are the innocent civilians," added Adraee.
#عاجل سبق وحذرنا فلم يتعظوا!
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 22, 2021
هز صباح اليوم انفجار قوي في مستودع أسلحة تابع لمنظمة #الجهاد_الإسلامي الإرهابية في قلب #سوق_الزاوية في #غزة أدى الى دمار موقعًا قتلى وجرحى بين سكان القطاع.
هذا الانفجار هو بمثابة دليل آخر على طريقة تغليب مصلحة المنظمات الإرهابية على مصالح سكان القطاع pic.twitter.com/PrmSDS8WBd