In one of the heaviest attacks in weeks, the Israeli forces killed at least 41 people at a seaside cafe near the port in Gaza City on Monday and gunfire left another 23 Palestinians dead as they desperately tried to gather food aid, health officials said.
An airstrike by Israeli air forces hit Al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza City when it was reportedly crowded with women and children, stated Ali Abu Ateila who was present inside the cafe, reported Associated Press. “Without a warning, all of a sudden, a warplane hit the place, shaking it like an earthquake,” he said.
Blood, rubble, and a deck of cards lie scattered in a café after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike that killed more than 30 people near the port in Gaza City. (AP Photo)
A CNN report quoted director of Al-Shifa hospital, Dr. Mohammad Abu Silmiya, who gave an update on Monday night on the casualties in the Al-Baqa Cafe strike and said that at least 41 people have been killed and 75 others remain injured.
🚚 HUMANITARIAN AID UPDATE: As part of the framework for distributing food and humanitarian aid in Gaza, carried out by the GHF in coordination with international aid organizations, the IDF is conducting ongoing assessments to improve operational response, minimize friction with… pic.twitter.com/RtTQnFFyh8
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 30, 2025
Al-Shifa hospital further stated that two other strikes in Gaza City killed another 15 people, while a building was targeted by the Israeli forces near the town of Zawaida which led to the death of six people, AP reported.
Al-Baqa cafe, which is frequently visited by activists, journalists, and local residents, was a hub for people seeking internet access and a place to charge their phones. It also acted as a place to work by the Mediterranean coast. Disturbing visuals shared on social media showed blood and disfigured bodies on the ground as injured people were being taken to hospital in blankets.
The attack by the Israeli military comes ahead of ceasefire talks with US President Donald Trump, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House next week. Trump has called to “Make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back”. Meanwhile, Israel’s strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer is visiting Washington this week to discuss the modalities surrounding the Gaza ceasefire and Iran.
