Israeli Air Strike Kills 20 at Gaza Seafront Café, Medics Report

 At least 20 Palestinians lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike targeting a popular seafront café in western Gaza on Monday, often frequented by activists, journalists, and locals, according to medics and eyewitnesses.

Rescue teams retrieved 20 bodies and evacuated dozens of injured individuals from Al-Baqa Cafeteria, an outdoor venue with tents along the beach, a spokesperson for Gaza's Hamas-controlled Civil Defence confirmed.

Emergency crews continued searching through a deep crater left by the explosion. "I was on my way to the café to use the internet just a few meters away when a massive explosion hit," said Aziz Al-Afifi, a cameraman with a local production firm, recounting his experience.

"I ran to the scene. My colleagues were there, people I meet every day. The scene was horrific—bodies, blood, screaming everywhere," he added.

Activists posted videos on social media that appeared to capture the moment a missile, reportedly launched from an Israeli warplane, struck the area, showing bodies scattered on the ground post-attack.

Well-known for offering internet access and workspace along Gaza's Mediterranean coast, Al-Baqa Cafeteria was a gathering spot for journalists and activists.

The Israeli military has not issued a statement regarding the strike.

The attack followed a series of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip overnight, leading to mass displacements of hundreds of Palestinian families, witnesses reported.

Rescue efforts also uncovered the bodies of five individuals, while many injured civilians were taken to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City.

These bombings mark one of the largest evacuation directives since the conflict reignited in March, amid growing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refocus efforts on achieving a ceasefire.

Amidst political mediation efforts, US President Donald Trump recently suggested that negotiations between Israel and Hamas are in progress.

A previously held ceasefire brokered in January had failed, and subsequent violence erupted when Israel imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, later easing constraints following international pressure.

Eyewitnesses and medical personnel attribute recent Palestinian casualties to Israeli actions, while the latter claims it has only responded to threats.

Amid ongoing air raids, fears are growing that Israel's military strategy might aim to expand its ground operations in Gaza.

Back home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under mounting pressure to reconsider warfare strategies, balancing domestic and international calls for peace.

The Israeli military initiated its actions in retaliation to Palestinian attacks, resulting in thousands of fatalities and hostages. According to Gaza's health ministry, the ongoing conflict has claimed over 56,000 lives.