Most of those killed were students who were at the Al-Baqa café to access the internet for work and study.
The strike resulted in heavy damage, and smoke billowed from the area as the cafe and nearby buildings bore the brunt of the blast. Two bodies were observed being taken out on stretchers. The hospital inundated with casualties, experienced a shortage of ICU beds and anesthetics.
Many of the wounded were being treated on the floor as there was no space, Dr. Silmiya said.
One of the slain was the freelance journalist Ismail Abu Hatab. His death brought the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 to 228, according to a media office run by Hamas.
Israeli Military Reviews Incident
The Israeli military said on Monday that it had carried out strikes in northern Gaza and that it had been targeting Hamas militants. The officials said they conducted the aerial surveillance to limit civilian casualties and that the specific case was under review.
The Al-Baqa cafe was a popular spot for students, people working remotely and journalists, close to the Mediterranean Sea. The region was one of the few places where the internet was available in the middle of a conflict. An increasing number of casualties were reported to have died of their wounds later that night.
Political Instability Before the US Meeting
The strike came as Israeli leaders were engaged in critical discussions about the war in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump on July 7 and calls are being sounded for a policy to be decided ahead of the visit.
A source close to the gatherings said Netanyahu had yet to come to a definitive decision after two days of confab with his top advisors and ministers. And while some, such as Netanyahu and Aryeh Deri, are edging toward a ceasefire and a possible prisoner exchange, their far-right cabinet colleagues Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are pushing for further military escalation.
Ben Gvir, who heads the Jewish Power party, urged a “decisive move” in Gaza and said there were opportunities that had been missed. On Sunday, Netanyahu suggested that recent Israeli actions in Iran could have paved the way for the return from Gaza of the hostages. A decision is expected this week before he leaves for Washington.
