A deadly Israeli airstrike hit Al-Baqa Café, a popular beachside venue in Gaza City, on June 30, killing more than 30 people, including civilians and a Palestinian journalist. The attack came amid a day of intensified bombardments across Gaza, raising the total death toll to at least 74, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
💥 Airstrike Targets One of Gaza’s Last Public Spaces
The beachfront café, located near Gaza’s seaport, had served as one of the few remaining public gathering spaces in the city. Locals came not just for coffee, but to access rare essentials: internet, electricity, and a moment of psychological relief amid months of warfare.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of sudden chaos, with debris, personal belongings, and blood scattered across the site. Victims included families, youth, and a well-known Palestinian photojournalist, Ismail Abu Hatab, whose death sparked international mourning.
🧑💻 Journalist Among the Fallen
Images from Shifa Hospital showed Abu Hatab’s mother weeping beside his lifeless body—a photo that quickly spread across media outlets and social platforms. The 27-year-old journalist had been documenting the conflict for several years and was highly regarded for his frontline coverage.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the attack, reiterating demands for the protection of media workers under international humanitarian law.
🧨 More Civilian Strikes Across Gaza
The café strike was just one of several that day:
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In Khan Younis, civilians gathering to collect food aid were fired upon, reportedly killing multiple individuals.
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A UN warehouse in northern Gaza also sustained damage, affecting the distribution of humanitarian aid.
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Several homes were flattened in central Rafah, contributing to a wave of new displacements.
The strikes have intensified fears among humanitarian agencies that civilian zones and aid facilities are no longer respected as off-limits in the ongoing conflict.
🚨 Humanitarian Concerns Escalate
As of July 1, aid access across Gaza remains critically limited, with over 1 million people displaced, and many more lacking access to food, water, and medical care. Evacuation orders continue to push civilians into smaller, overcrowded zones with no guaranteed safety.
International aid organizations warn that if this trend continues, Gaza’s population could face catastrophic conditions by the end of the summer.
🕊️ Global Outcry and Legal Questions
Human rights advocates are calling for investigations into whether the café strike and similar incidents constitute violations of international humanitarian law, especially given the presence of civilians and journalists.
The targeting of what was perceived as a neutral civilian safe zone may place further diplomatic pressure on Israel as ceasefire negotiations remain stalled.
