An Israeli airstrike on a cherished Gaza City cafe shattered peace, with devastating civilian casualties.
At a Glance
- An Israeli airstrike on a seaside cafe in Gaza City on Monday killed at least 24 people, including women and children.
- The Al-Baqa Cafe was a popular gathering spot for residents seeking internet access and a place to charge phones.
- The attack was part of a wider day of violence in which at least 74 Palestinians were reported killed across Gaza.
- The Israeli military said it was targeting “several Hamas terrorists” in the area and that the incident is “under review.”
A “Massacre” at a Seaside Cafe
An Israeli airstrike devastated a crowded seaside cafe in Gaza City on Monday, June 30, 2025, killing at least 24 people in one of the deadliest single attacks in the city in weeks. The strike on the Al-Baqa Cafe, which was filled with civilians, including women and children, left dozens more wounded, many critically.
Israeli attack on Gaza City beach cafe kills dozens, including journalisthttps://t.co/0JP5QwhEGp
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 1, 2025
“Without a warning, all of a sudden, a warplane hit the place, shaking it like an earthquake,” eyewitness Ali Abu Ateila, who was inside at the time, told NPR. Another witness described the scene as a “massacre,” with “bodies, blood, and screaming everywhere.”
A Haven Turned to Rubble
The Al-Baqa Cafe had survived more than 20 months of war and had become a vital and cherished haven for local residents. In a city with its infrastructure decimated, the cafe was one of the last remaining public places where people could gather, access a rare internet connection, and charge their phones.
This vital function meant the cafe was consistently crowded with civilians. Among those confirmed killed in the strike was Palestinian journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
The Israeli Military Responds
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the strike in a statement reported by The Times of Israel. The military claimed its aircraft had struck “several Hamas terrorists” in the northern Gaza Strip.
An army spokesperson stated that “prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance.” The IDF has said the “incident is under review.”
A Day of Widespread Violence
The deadly cafe bombing was part of a wider escalation of violence across the Gaza Strip on Monday. According to reports from the Associated Press, Israeli forces killed dozens of other Palestinians throughout the day, including several who were shot while trying to get food from aid distribution sites. In total, Palestinian health officials reported at least 74 people were killed across Gaza in one of the bloodiest days of the conflict this year.
