Seaside Café Bombing in Gaza Leaves Dozens Dead, Including Women, Children, and Artists
GAZA CITY – An Israeli airstrike targeting a Hamas commander at a popular seaside café in northern Gaza has left at least 40 civilians dead, igniting fresh global outrage over the rising civilian toll in the ongoing conflict.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had killed Ramzi Ramadan Abd Ali Saleh, the commander of Hamas’s naval force in the north, in the strike on the al-Baqa Cafeteria on Monday. Also killed were Hisham Ayman Atiya Mansour, deputy head of Hamas’s mortar unit, and Nissim Muhammad Suleiman Abu Sabha. The IDF described Saleh as a “significant source of knowledge” responsible for coordinating maritime attacks.
Despite claims that measures were taken to reduce civilian harm, the bombing of the well-known café resulted in heavy loss of life. The BBC verified the names of 29 victims, including at least nine women, as well as children and teenagers. Among the dead were artists, students, a female boxer, a footballer, and café workers. Staff at Shifa Hospital reported receiving 40 bodies and 72 injured, many with severe burns and trauma.
The al-Baqa Cafeteria, renowned for its scenic coastal view and stable internet connection, had remained a rare social hub even amid the war. Its destruction and the civilian deaths have raised serious questions about proportionality and targeting in the IDF’s campaign.
When asked whether the strike was proportionate, the IDF did not comment directly but stated that the incident is “under review” and reiterated its commitment to targeting Hamas operatives while attempting to minimize harm to civilians.
Meanwhile, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas began in Qatar to explore a potential ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement, though optimism remains cautious.
Israel’s military campaign began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, at least 57,338 Palestinians have been killed since then.