"Witnesses recount harrowing scene after Israeli missile hits crowded Gaza cafe"

Witnesses have recounted the violent consequences of an Israeli strike on a packed seaside café in Gaza, which resulted in at least 24 deaths and numerous injuries on Tuesday.

Al-Baqa café, located near Gaza City’s harbor, was heavily occupied in the early afternoon when a missile struck, turning a moment of brief calm in the heart of Gaza’s largest urban area into a scene of devastation.

Among the dead were many women, children, and elderly individuals, including a Palestinian photojournalist and an internationally recognized artist.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it was examining the attack, claiming it had targeted “several Hamas members in the northern Gaza Strip.”

Abu al-Nour, 60, said he had stepped outside to get food and was on his way back when the strike occurred.

“Just as I approached, a missile hit. Debris flew everywhere, and the area was engulfed in smoke and the odor of explosives. I couldn’t see anything. I rushed toward the café and found it in ruins. Inside, bodies lay scattered. All the staff had been killed,” he told *CuriosityNews*.

“A family with young children was there—why were they targeted? It was a place where people sought a break from hardship.”

The café had endured over 20 months of war until then, providing brief shelter from the relentless violence.

“That spot always had many visitors, offering refreshments, space for families, and internet access,” said Ahmad al-Nayrab, 26, who was walking nearby when he heard the blast.

“It was a massacre,” he said. “I saw body parts flying, people torn apart and burned. The sight was horrific—everyone was screaming.”

Adam, 21, had been working close by, renting chairs and tables along the walkway.

“When the strike hit, we ducked as debris rained down. We ran, trying to make sense of what happened, then helped with rescue efforts. The devastation was unimaginable. I knew everyone who worked there, and the place had been full of customers of all ages,” he told *CuriosityNews*.

Other witnesses reported seeing a dead four-year-old, an elderly man with severed legs, and many gravely wounded individuals. Images showed blood, mangled remains, and rubble from collapsed structures, along with a deep crater indicating the use of a high-impact weapon.

The IDF spokesperson said measures had been taken beforehand, including aerial monitoring, to reduce civilian harm.

Two additional strikes in Gaza City killed 15, according to al-Shifa hospital, which treated the wounded. Witnesses, medical facilities, and Gaza’s health ministry also reported that Israeli forces killed 11 people gathering food in the southern part of the region.

Israel has intensified its military efforts in the area.