Key facts
- An Israeli drone attack on a cafe west of Gaza City killed at least seven Palestinians, including a child.
- One victim's body was severely mutilated and unidentifiable.
- The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted Hamas commanders planning an attack.
- Hamas condemned the strike as a "massacre" and urged mediators to enforce a ceasefire.
- The incident followed a visit by U.S. envoy Jared Kushner aimed at advancing a peace plan.
An Israeli drone attack on a cafe in the port area west of Gaza City on Tuesday killed at least seven Palestinians, including a child, and left one body so mutilated that health workers could not identify the victim. Gaza health officials reported receiving six bodies and 13 wounded, with one of the injured later succumbing to their injuries. The intensity of the strike reportedly pushed some casualties into the sea, suggesting the total number of dead and injured could be higher. Eyewitnesses stated that Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at the cafe. The Israeli military confirmed a "precise aerial strike" against "several Hamas commanders" in the Shati area, claiming they were planning an attack and that measures were taken to mitigate civilian harm. Hamas denounced the strike as a "massacre" and urged mediators to pressure Israel to adhere to a ceasefire deal. The attack occurred a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the next stage of a U.S.-led peace plan, following discussions with U.S. special envoy Jared Kushner. The plan reportedly includes demands for Hamas disarmament in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal, though Israel initially rejected a version of the plan where Hamas agreed to disarm and hand over control to a technocratic body.