Gaza City, July 1 (V7N) — At least 41 people were killed and 75 others injured when an Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Baqa Café near the port of Gaza City late Monday night (June 30), according to Dr. Mohammad Abu Silmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza.

Local sources reported that the café was crowded with civilians, including students, journalists, and remote workers, at the time of the attack. The popular venue was known for its internet access and views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Video footage verified by CNN showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the devastated area as bodies were pulled from the rubble. The airstrike left the café and surrounding buildings in ruins.

The Israeli military (IDF) told CNN that the strike was “under review,” claiming the attack targeted Hamas members in northern Gaza. The IDF said air surveillance was conducted beforehand to “minimize civilian casualties.”

However, no official IDF statement on this specific strike had been issued as of this report.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said over 100 civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed in recent Israeli strikes as the conflict intensifies. Humanitarian conditions are worsening, with hospitals overwhelmed and critical shortages of ICU beds, anesthesia, and other supplies. Many of the injured are being treated on the floors of medical facilities, Dr. Abu Silmiya said.

Among the dead was Ismail Abu Hattab, a freelance journalist. According to the Hamas-run Media Office, at least 228 journalists have been killed in Israeli operations since October 2023.

The United Nations and human rights groups have renewed calls for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and for safe passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

END/RH/AJ