Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Deepens After Deadly Airstrike on Beachfront Café

Gaza City, July 2, 2025 — A devastating Israeli airstrike on a popular beachfront café in Gaza City has left at least 39 people dead, including children, artists, and journalists, in one of the deadliest single attacks in recent weeks. The strike, which occurred without warning, has intensified global concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian enclave, where more than 56,000 people have reportedly died since the conflict escalated nearly 20 months ago.

A Place of Refuge Turned to Rubble

The café, known as Al-Baqa, was one of the few remaining public spaces in Gaza City offering internet access and a brief respite from the daily horrors of war. On Monday evening, it was filled with families, university students, and displaced residents seeking a moment of normalcy. Among the victims were Frans Al-Salmi, a prominent Palestinian artist, and Ismail Abu Hatab, a well-known photojournalist

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Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and carnage. “We found people torn apart,” said Yahya Sharif, a survivor. “This place wasn’t affiliated with anyone—no politics, no militants. Just families trying to find a brief moment of peace”.

Graphic images from the scene showed bloodstained debris, overturned tables, and dazed survivors stumbling through smoke and rubble. The explosion left a massive crater and destroyed the café entirely.

Multiple Civilian Sites Targeted

The airstrike on Al-Baqa was part of a broader wave of Israeli attacks across Gaza on Monday. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 95 Palestinians were killed in a series of strikes that also hit a school sheltering displaced families, a hospital courtyard, and a food distribution center.

• In Gaza City, the Yafa school, which was housing hundreds of evacuees, was bombed shortly after residents received a five-minute warning to flee.
• In Deir el-Balah, the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital was struck, damaging tents and injuring civilians seeking medical care.
• In Khan Younis, an airstrike near a humanitarian aid center killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more.

The Israeli military acknowledged civilian casualties in some of these incidents and stated that new operational guidelines were being implemented based on “lessons learned”.

A Humanitarian Catastrophe

The latest attacks have exacerbated what aid organizations describe as a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. Gaza’s health infrastructure is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals overwhelmed, medical supplies depleted, and electricity and water access severely limited.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 70% of Gaza’s hospitals are either non-functional or operating at minimal capacity. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over 1.9 million people—nearly 85% of Gaza’s population—are now internally displaced.

“Each day brings new funerals and new grief,” said Dr. Lina Al-Khatib, a physician at Al-Shifa Hospital. “We are treating patients on the floor, in hallways, and sometimes without anesthesia. The system is collapsing.”

International Outcry and Diplomatic Tensions

The airstrike on the café has drawn sharp condemnation from international leaders and human rights organizations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the attack “unconscionable” and urged both sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire.

Human Rights Watch described the strike as a potential war crime, citing the lack of military targets in the vicinity and the presence of civilians. “This was a deliberate attack on a civilian gathering place,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, a senior legal advisor. “It violates the principles of proportionality and distinction under international humanitarian law.”

In Washington, the U.S. State Department expressed “deep concern” and called for a transparent investigation. Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated calls for a permanent ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.

Ceasefire Talks Falter

Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, a lasting ceasefire remains elusive. A proposed 60-day truce, tied to a staged hostage exchange, is currently under negotiation. However, fundamental disagreements persist: Hamas demands a permanent end to hostilities, while the Israeli government insists on retaining the right to resume military operations after any temporary pause.

For civilians trapped in Gaza, these negotiations feel distant and abstract. “We hear about ceasefires on the news, but nothing changes here,” said Bayan Abu Sultan, a journalist injured in the café strike. “We are dying while the world debates.”

The Toll on Gaza’s Children

Children have borne the brunt of the violence. According to Save the Children, more than 14,000 children have been killed since the conflict began, and thousands more have been orphaned or injured. Schools have been turned into shelters, and many children have not attended classes in over a year.

At the site of the café bombing, rescuers found the remains of a birthday cake and balloons—evidence that a child’s celebration had turned into a massacre. “There were kids laughing just minutes before,” said Ali Abu Ateila, a café employee. “Now there’s nothing left but blood and silence”.

Aid Efforts Under Fire

The attack on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid center in Khan Younis has raised alarm about the safety of humanitarian operations. The GHF, backed by the U.S. and Israel, has reported nearly 600 civilian deaths at its aid hubs in the past month alone.

Aid workers say they are increasingly targeted despite clear markings and coordination with military authorities. “We are risking our lives to deliver food and medicine,” said Nadia El-Masri, a GHF coordinator. “But even aid centers are no longer safe.”

A Region on Edge

The escalation in Gaza has heightened tensions across the region. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has increased rocket fire into northern Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes. In Jordan, mass protests have erupted outside the Israeli embassy, and in Egypt, the government has warned of a “regional explosion” if the violence continues.

Meanwhile, in Israel, public opinion remains divided. While many support the military campaign as necessary for national security, others are calling for a diplomatic solution. “We cannot bomb our way to peace,” said Tzipi Livni, a former Israeli foreign minister. “This cycle of violence must end.”

Conclusion: A Crisis Without End

As the sun sets over the shattered skyline of Gaza City, the smell of smoke and the sound of mourning linger in the air. The beachfront café, once a symbol of resilience and community, is now a cratered graveyard.

With over 56,000 lives lost, tens of thousands injured, and millions displaced, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza shows no signs of abating. The international community faces a stark choice: act decisively to end the bloodshed—or continue to bear witness to a tragedy that deepens by the day.