At least 30 people were killed and dozens injured, many critically, after an Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Baqa cafe in Gaza City on 30/6, according to Fares Awad, head of emergency and ambulance services in northern Gaza.

Witness Ali Abu Ateila said the cafe was crowded with women and children. "A warplane suddenly attacked without warning, shaking everything like an earthquake," he said.

The Al-Baqa cafe was one of the few businesses still operating after more than 20 months of conflict in Gaza. It was a popular gathering place for people to access the internet and charge their phones.

The Al-Baqa cafe in Gaza City after the Israeli airstrike on 30/6. Photo: *AP*

"There are always many people here for drinks, family time, and internet access," said Ahmad al-Nayrab, who was walking on the nearby beach when the airstrike occurred.

"This is a massacre," he added. "I saw body parts scattered everywhere, crushed and burned. The scene was horrific, and everyone was screaming."

Among the dead was Palestinian journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, according to *AFP*.

An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said they targeted "several Hamas members in northern Gaza" and took steps to minimize civilian casualties. "The incident is being investigated," the official added.

*AP*, citing medical officials and witnesses, reported that 23 other people were killed in various locations while receiving aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), an organization supported by the US and Israel.

Another 21 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on a Gaza City road and near the town of Zawaida, bringing the total death toll on 30/6 to 74, according to *AP*.

Tel Aviv has repeatedly stated that it only targets Hamas members and blames the militant group for civilian casualties, claiming its fighters deliberately hide in populated areas.

Location of urban areas in the Gaza Strip. Graphics: *BBC*

The conflict in Gaza erupted in 10/2023 after Hamas launched a coordinated attack on southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Forty-nine hostages are still held in Gaza, including 27 believed dead by Israel.

Israel's subsequent retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed more than 56,000 people, mostly civilians, according to local health authorities.

Qatar, which mediates between Israel and Hamas, said last week that there was a chance for a ceasefire after Israel and Iran ended their fighting on 24/6. However, there are no concrete signs that negotiations have resumed.

Pham Giang (*AP*, *AFP*)