Subtitle:
Strike hits crowded civilian area as conflict escalates, sparking renewed outrage
Content:
At least 20 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike struck a busy seafront café in Gaza, according to accounts from local witnesses and rescue workers on the scene. The café, located in a popular coastal area, was reportedly crowded with civilians at the time of the strike.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation, with ambulances rushing to transport the wounded and volunteers digging through debris in search of survivors. “It was a place where people came to escape the war for a few minutes — and now it’s turned into a graveyard,” said one local resident.
Emergency responders confirmed a high number of casualties, including several young people who had gathered at the location for evening prayers and to find respite from the heat and ongoing violence.
The Israeli military has not issued a statement on the incident as of yet, though previous strikes in the area have been justified as targeting suspected militant activity.
The deadly attack has triggered fresh condemnation from human rights groups and international observers, who are urging both sides to prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the latest strike underscores the increasingly devastating toll on non-combatants caught in the crossfire. Calls for an immediate ceasefire are growing louder as Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and population bear the brunt of the violence.