Israeli Airstrike Hits Crowded Gaza Café, 95 Killed Across Territory

Gaza – At least 95 Palestinians were killed on Monday following a series of Israeli attacks across Gaza, including a devastating airstrike that struck a packed café in Gaza City, killing 39 people — among them women, children, and a local journalist.

Witnesses say the strike on al-Baqa Café came without warning. The café, situated near the Gaza seafront, was one of the few remaining public spaces still functioning after nearly two years of war. Locals often gathered there to charge phones, access the internet, or simply seek moments of normalcy amid the ongoing conflict.

Ali Abu Ateila, who was inside the café at the time of the explosion, described the moment the strike hit.
“Without warning, a warplane struck. The whole place shook like an earthquake,” he told WafricNews.

Among the victims was journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, a well-known voice in the region. His death adds to the mounting toll of media workers killed since the start of Israel’s military campaign in October 2023. According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, more than 220 journalists have now died in the conflict — making Gaza one of the deadliest places in the world to report from.

In addition to the café strike, Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on Palestinians attempting to access food aid, worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis gripping the enclave.

Monday’s attacks have once again drawn international attention to the intensity and human cost of the conflict, now in its 20th month, with calls growing for increased global intervention and accountability.