More than 40 people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck a popular café near Gaza City’s port, according to the director of Gaza’s largest hospital.
The strike came amid ongoing debates among Israeli leaders over the future of the war in Gaza ahead of a key meeting with United States President, Donald Trump.
Dr. Mohammad Abu Silmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, said late Monday that at least 41 people were confirmed dead and 75 others injured after the strike on the Al-Baqa café.
“Most of the casualties are women and children,” Silmiya told CNN, adding that many were students who had gathered at the café for internet access.
Videos verified and geolocated by CNN show thick plumes of smoke rising over the coastal neighborhood and widespread destruction around the café.
Footage also showed bodies being carried away on stretchers.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CNN the incident was “under review.”
In a statement, the IDF said, “Earlier today (Monday), the IDF struck several Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip. Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance.”
The Al-Baqa café had become a known hub for students, journalists, and remote workers seeking internet connectivity amid Gaza’s widespread power cuts.
Among those killed was freelance journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, according to other journalists at the scene.
The Hamas-run Government Media Office said Abu Hatab’s death brings to 228 the number of journalists killed by Israeli military action in Gaza since October 2023.
Silmiya warned that Al-Shifa Hospital was overwhelmed, lacking ICU beds and essential anesthetics to treat the influx of wounded.
“We are treating the injured on the hospital floor as no rooms and hospital beds are available,” he said, noting that the death toll rose as some of the injured succumbed to their wounds overnight.
The deadly strike comes as Israeli political leaders remain divided over how to proceed in Gaza, just days ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expected meeting with President Trump in Washington, D.C., on July 7.
A source familiar with internal discussions told CNN that Netanyahu has not yet finalized a policy decision after two days of high-level meetings.
While Netanyahu is said to be exploring the possibility of a ceasefire deal, far-right ministers, including Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, continue to push for an intensified military campaign in Gaza.
Ben Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power party, reportedly insisted on a “decisive move” in Gaza and expressed frustration over what he described as lost opportunities with every passing day. Meanwhile, other officials like Aryeh Deri have voiced support for a comprehensive hostage deal that could end the conflict.
On Sunday, Netanyahu said “many opportunities have opened up” following Israel’s military operations in Iran, including the potential to secure the release of the remaining hostages still held in Gaza.
The source added that Netanyahu hopes to reach a decision before his trip to Washington next week, where discussions with Trump are expected to focus heavily on the future of the Gaza war and the prospects for a ceasefire.