Israeli airstrike on popular Gaza cafe kills Hamas operative, dozens of civilians [PHOTOS]

An Israeli airstrike on the Al-Baqa Cafeteria, a well-known seaside cafe in Gaza City, killed a Hamas operative, but also claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including artists, students, and children.

Before the blast, the cafe was bustling with life. Patrons were gathered around tables, enjoying tea, checking their phones, or celebrating a birthday.

Among them, according to sources who spoke to reporters, was a Hamas operative dressed in civilian clothing who had quietly taken a seat in a corner.

Shortly after his arrival, an Israeli bomb struck the location, tearing through the cafe and leaving behind a crater and widespread devastation.

Witnesses described scenes of panic and horror as survivors ran into the wreckage in search of loved ones.

“The scene was horrific, bodies, blood, screaming everywhere,” one witness told newsmen.

“It was total destruction,” said another. “A real massacre happened at al-Baqa Cafeteria. A real massacre that breaks hearts.”

Victims included women, teenagers, and professionals such as a female boxer, a footballer, and staff members of the cafe. The youngest were students and children.

Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, where many of the victims were taken, reported at least 40 deaths as of Thursday, including people who later died of their injuries.

A hospital official described finding dismembered and severely burned bodies. The facility treated 72 injured people, many requiring surgery.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it had targeted “terrorists” at the cafe and claimed steps had been taken to “mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance

” The IDF also noted the incident was “under review” but did not directly address the high number of civilian deaths or the identity of the intended target.

Al-Baqa Cafeteria, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, was divided into men’s and family sections and had remained popular throughout the war, in part due to its stable internet connection.

Staff toldreporters that the cafe maintained a strict entry policy aimed at preventing known militants from entering.

On the day of the strike, the port area of Gaza City where the cafe is located was not under Israeli evacuation orders. Families of victims said they believed it was a relatively safe place.

Defense experts who spoke to newsmen concluded that the munition used was likely a bomb dropped by a warplane, not a smaller missile launched by drone, an indication of intent to ensure the target was neutralized.

Among the dead was 27-year-old Hisham Ayman Mansour, identified by a Hamas source as the likely target. A former member of Hamas’ military wing, he was described by some sources as a field commander, though his current role was unclear. Multiple sources offered different accounts of why he was at the cafe, ranging from a money drop to a routine coffee break.

Photos posted online appeared to show Hisham at the cafe the day before the attack and again following the strike, wearing the same outfit. Two of his family members, including a child, also died in the blast.

The IDF would not confirm whether Hisham was the primary target or if other operatives were involved. A former senior Israeli official stated that multiple Hamas operatives were hit, though only Hisham’s name was confirmed by local Hamas sources.

Civilians bore the brunt of the blast. Among them was 17-year-old Sama Mohammad Abu Namous, who had gone to the cafe with her brother to study using its internet connection. She was killed instantly, while her brother survived with injuries.

Several waiters also died. A cafe manager said they had been gathered in a shaded area when the strike occurred. One regular, Saeed Ahel, said six staff members were killed. A mother screamed as the bodies of her two sons, both cafe workers, were carried from the rubble.

Victims also included Malak Musleh, a young female boxer known for advocating gender equality in sports. Her coach, Osama Ayoub, said she was committed to her training until the end. “She had passion in her eyes and her words,” he recalled.

Artist Amina Omar Al-Salmi, known online as Frans, was also killed. Her artwork, including one haunting image of a woman covered in blood, has circulated widely since her death, drawing eerie comparisons with posthumous photos.

“She was happy and said: ‘We’ll meet soon. You’ll see me at your place,'” her sister in Sweden told reporters.

Gaza remains closed to international media, making independent verification difficult. Meanwhile, the debris of al-Baqa Cafeteria tells the story: bloodstained playing cards, a child’s shoe, and a torn teddy bear scattered among broken beams and scorched furniture, remnants of lives cut short.

Israeli airstrike on popular Gaza cafe kills Hamas operative, dozens of civilians [PHOTOS]