Israeli strike kills 30 at cafe popular for co-working, official says
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here More than 30 people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike that hit a cafe near the port in Gaza City, according to the head of the territory's largest hospital. Dr Mohammad Abu Silmiya, the director of Al-Shifa hospital, said in an update on Monday afternoon (early Tuesday AEST) that at least 31 people had been killed and 70 injured in the strike. Videos geolocated by CNN show thick smoke rising from the scene as well as widespread damage to the cafe and the surrounding area. They also showed bodies being removed on stretchers. A Palestinian man checks an area near the cafe that was damaged in an Israeli strike on Monday. (Jehad Alshrafi/AP via CNN Newsource) The Israel Defence Forces told CNN it was looking into the circumstances around the strike. The Al-Baqa cafe was a well-known spot for students, journalists and remote workers, as it offered internet and a place to work by the Mediterranean coast. Silmiya told CNN that "most of the casualties are women and children", including many students who were at the cafe for internet access. He also said the hospital was short of ICU beds and anaesthetics to treat the casualties. "We are treating the injured on the hospital floor as no rooms and hospital beds are available", the hospital director added. Damage at the cafe near the port in Gaza City on June 30, 2025, following an Israeli airstrike. (CNN via CNN Newsource) Among those killed was a freelance journalist, Ismail Abu Hatab, according to other journalists at the scene. The Hamas-controlled Government Media Office said his death brought to 228 the number of journalists killed by Israeli military action in Gaza since October 2023. CONTACT US
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sydney Morning Herald
39 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kneecap, Bob Vylan Glastonbury gigs under criminal investigation
London: British police have launched a criminal investigation into a televised performance at the Glastonbury Festival by rap punk duo Bob Vylan, who drew criticism after they led crowds of music fans in chanting 'death' to the Israeli military. Meanwhile, the US State Department said it has revoked the visas for the duo, who were set to go on tour in the United States later this year, after their 'hateful tirade at Glastonbury'. Rapper Bobby Vylan – who until the weekend was relatively little known – on Saturday led crowds in chants of 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]' at Britain's biggest summer music festival. The BBC said it regretted livestreaming the performance. 'The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves,' the broadcaster said, adding that it 'respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence'. Loading British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UK politicians condemned the chants, saying there was no excuse for such 'appalling hate speech'. Avon and Somerset Police said the performance, along with that by Irish-language band Kneecap, was now subject to a criminal investigation and have been 'recorded as a public order incident'. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has inflamed tensions around the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in many capitals and on college campuses. Israel and some supporters have described the protests as antisemitic, while critics say Israel uses such descriptions to silence opponents.


The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Netanyahu to visit White House amid push for ceasefire
Israel's defence minister says and end to the war in Gaza is near as President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next week. The impending visit on Monday was confirmed by two US administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House since Trump returned to office and it comes after the US inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran by attacking Iranian nuclear sites. After brokering a ceasefire between the two countries, Trump has signalled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has flagged an end to the conflict. "We are now approaching the conclusion of the operation in Gaza," Katz said in a statement on Monday. He reiterated Israel's objectives in the conflict, including the release of all hostages and the defeat of Islamist group Hamas. The war was sparked by Hamas and other Palestinian militants launching an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The prospect of peace comes as at least 34 people were killed in Gaza City, staff at the nearby Shifa Hospital told dpa, after eyewitnesses reported that a café on the promenade was hit by an Israeli attack. Among the victims were said to be several minors and women, as well as a journalist. Hamas, which controls Gaza, stated instead that the attack targeted a camp for displaced people on the beach, while the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a rest area on the beach was struck. The Israeli military said it was targeting several members of Hamas, saying measures had been taken beforehand to protect uninvolved civilians, including aerial surveillance of the area. The incident is under investigation. According to medical sources in the strip, at least 100 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Monday. At least 13 Palestinians were killed in firing by Israeli soldiers in the south of the Gaza Strip, near an aid distribution centre, WAFA said. It added that 10 others were killed in Israeli shelling in the area of a warehouse in the south of the city of Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has denied similar reports of fatal incidents at its aid centres in the past. The foundation, which has been criticised by the United Nations and aid agencies operating in the Palestinian Territories, began its work last month following an almost three-month-long Israeli blockade of aid supplies. The US-backed GHF says it has since distributed more than 50 million meals to people in the war-torn coastal strip. The Israel Defense Forces hinted in a statement on Monday that operations around aid centres could have been handled better. "Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned," the statement said. "The aforementioned incidents are under review by the competent authorities in the IDF." with AP Israel's defence minister says and end to the war in Gaza is near as President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next week. The impending visit on Monday was confirmed by two US administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House since Trump returned to office and it comes after the US inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran by attacking Iranian nuclear sites. After brokering a ceasefire between the two countries, Trump has signalled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has flagged an end to the conflict. "We are now approaching the conclusion of the operation in Gaza," Katz said in a statement on Monday. He reiterated Israel's objectives in the conflict, including the release of all hostages and the defeat of Islamist group Hamas. The war was sparked by Hamas and other Palestinian militants launching an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The prospect of peace comes as at least 34 people were killed in Gaza City, staff at the nearby Shifa Hospital told dpa, after eyewitnesses reported that a café on the promenade was hit by an Israeli attack. Among the victims were said to be several minors and women, as well as a journalist. Hamas, which controls Gaza, stated instead that the attack targeted a camp for displaced people on the beach, while the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a rest area on the beach was struck. The Israeli military said it was targeting several members of Hamas, saying measures had been taken beforehand to protect uninvolved civilians, including aerial surveillance of the area. The incident is under investigation. According to medical sources in the strip, at least 100 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Monday. At least 13 Palestinians were killed in firing by Israeli soldiers in the south of the Gaza Strip, near an aid distribution centre, WAFA said. It added that 10 others were killed in Israeli shelling in the area of a warehouse in the south of the city of Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has denied similar reports of fatal incidents at its aid centres in the past. The foundation, which has been criticised by the United Nations and aid agencies operating in the Palestinian Territories, began its work last month following an almost three-month-long Israeli blockade of aid supplies. The US-backed GHF says it has since distributed more than 50 million meals to people in the war-torn coastal strip. The Israel Defense Forces hinted in a statement on Monday that operations around aid centres could have been handled better. "Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned," the statement said. "The aforementioned incidents are under review by the competent authorities in the IDF." with AP Israel's defence minister says and end to the war in Gaza is near as President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next week. The impending visit on Monday was confirmed by two US administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House since Trump returned to office and it comes after the US inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran by attacking Iranian nuclear sites. After brokering a ceasefire between the two countries, Trump has signalled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has flagged an end to the conflict. "We are now approaching the conclusion of the operation in Gaza," Katz said in a statement on Monday. He reiterated Israel's objectives in the conflict, including the release of all hostages and the defeat of Islamist group Hamas. The war was sparked by Hamas and other Palestinian militants launching an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The prospect of peace comes as at least 34 people were killed in Gaza City, staff at the nearby Shifa Hospital told dpa, after eyewitnesses reported that a café on the promenade was hit by an Israeli attack. Among the victims were said to be several minors and women, as well as a journalist. Hamas, which controls Gaza, stated instead that the attack targeted a camp for displaced people on the beach, while the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a rest area on the beach was struck. The Israeli military said it was targeting several members of Hamas, saying measures had been taken beforehand to protect uninvolved civilians, including aerial surveillance of the area. The incident is under investigation. According to medical sources in the strip, at least 100 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Monday. At least 13 Palestinians were killed in firing by Israeli soldiers in the south of the Gaza Strip, near an aid distribution centre, WAFA said. It added that 10 others were killed in Israeli shelling in the area of a warehouse in the south of the city of Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has denied similar reports of fatal incidents at its aid centres in the past. The foundation, which has been criticised by the United Nations and aid agencies operating in the Palestinian Territories, began its work last month following an almost three-month-long Israeli blockade of aid supplies. The US-backed GHF says it has since distributed more than 50 million meals to people in the war-torn coastal strip. The Israel Defense Forces hinted in a statement on Monday that operations around aid centres could have been handled better. "Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned," the statement said. "The aforementioned incidents are under review by the competent authorities in the IDF." with AP Israel's defence minister says and end to the war in Gaza is near as President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next week. The impending visit on Monday was confirmed by two US administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House since Trump returned to office and it comes after the US inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran by attacking Iranian nuclear sites. After brokering a ceasefire between the two countries, Trump has signalled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has flagged an end to the conflict. "We are now approaching the conclusion of the operation in Gaza," Katz said in a statement on Monday. He reiterated Israel's objectives in the conflict, including the release of all hostages and the defeat of Islamist group Hamas. The war was sparked by Hamas and other Palestinian militants launching an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The prospect of peace comes as at least 34 people were killed in Gaza City, staff at the nearby Shifa Hospital told dpa, after eyewitnesses reported that a café on the promenade was hit by an Israeli attack. Among the victims were said to be several minors and women, as well as a journalist. Hamas, which controls Gaza, stated instead that the attack targeted a camp for displaced people on the beach, while the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a rest area on the beach was struck. The Israeli military said it was targeting several members of Hamas, saying measures had been taken beforehand to protect uninvolved civilians, including aerial surveillance of the area. The incident is under investigation. According to medical sources in the strip, at least 100 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Monday. At least 13 Palestinians were killed in firing by Israeli soldiers in the south of the Gaza Strip, near an aid distribution centre, WAFA said. It added that 10 others were killed in Israeli shelling in the area of a warehouse in the south of the city of Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has denied similar reports of fatal incidents at its aid centres in the past. The foundation, which has been criticised by the United Nations and aid agencies operating in the Palestinian Territories, began its work last month following an almost three-month-long Israeli blockade of aid supplies. The US-backed GHF says it has since distributed more than 50 million meals to people in the war-torn coastal strip. The Israel Defense Forces hinted in a statement on Monday that operations around aid centres could have been handled better. "Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned," the statement said. "The aforementioned incidents are under review by the competent authorities in the IDF." with AP


The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
First small group of Australians escape Iran by plane
Australian citizens are beginning to be flown out of Iran but escape options remain limited amid fears of more Israeli attacks. Five Australians have left Iran on a commercial flight from Mashhad, in the nation's north-east, for Dubai with Australian government assistance. In the week since the fragile truce between Israel and Iran began, airports in Iran's capital Tehran remain closed. Limited flights out of eastern Iran are opening up, with the Department of Foreign Affairs contacting hundreds of registered travellers to alert them about seats as they become available. More than 3000 Australians wanting to leave Iran have registered with the department for assistance and family members in Australia are concerned that options to cross the border into Azerbaijan are unfeasible for vulnerable people. More than 50 Australians have successfully crossed the border and been met by Australian officials, while more than 150 have received border codes for Azerbaijan. A backlog of Australian requests for Azerbaijan border crossing codes was cleared after representations by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and consular officials. The department is advising Australians in Iran to leave now, if it's safe to do so, noting that although the ceasefire is holding for now, the situation remains volatile and can change quickly. The department's ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited, given the environment in Iran is much more challenging than in Israel. Australia's embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and staff were recently evacuated. Travellers are urged to keep checking the Smartraveller website for updates. A ceasefire was reached after 12 days of war, which erupted on June 13 when Israel launched missile at Iranian military and nuclear sites. It came a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. The assault triggered waves of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, before the US intervened with a strike aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program and forcing a truce between the two nations. Australian citizens are beginning to be flown out of Iran but escape options remain limited amid fears of more Israeli attacks. Five Australians have left Iran on a commercial flight from Mashhad, in the nation's north-east, for Dubai with Australian government assistance. In the week since the fragile truce between Israel and Iran began, airports in Iran's capital Tehran remain closed. Limited flights out of eastern Iran are opening up, with the Department of Foreign Affairs contacting hundreds of registered travellers to alert them about seats as they become available. More than 3000 Australians wanting to leave Iran have registered with the department for assistance and family members in Australia are concerned that options to cross the border into Azerbaijan are unfeasible for vulnerable people. More than 50 Australians have successfully crossed the border and been met by Australian officials, while more than 150 have received border codes for Azerbaijan. A backlog of Australian requests for Azerbaijan border crossing codes was cleared after representations by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and consular officials. The department is advising Australians in Iran to leave now, if it's safe to do so, noting that although the ceasefire is holding for now, the situation remains volatile and can change quickly. The department's ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited, given the environment in Iran is much more challenging than in Israel. Australia's embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and staff were recently evacuated. Travellers are urged to keep checking the Smartraveller website for updates. A ceasefire was reached after 12 days of war, which erupted on June 13 when Israel launched missile at Iranian military and nuclear sites. It came a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. The assault triggered waves of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, before the US intervened with a strike aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program and forcing a truce between the two nations. Australian citizens are beginning to be flown out of Iran but escape options remain limited amid fears of more Israeli attacks. Five Australians have left Iran on a commercial flight from Mashhad, in the nation's north-east, for Dubai with Australian government assistance. In the week since the fragile truce between Israel and Iran began, airports in Iran's capital Tehran remain closed. Limited flights out of eastern Iran are opening up, with the Department of Foreign Affairs contacting hundreds of registered travellers to alert them about seats as they become available. More than 3000 Australians wanting to leave Iran have registered with the department for assistance and family members in Australia are concerned that options to cross the border into Azerbaijan are unfeasible for vulnerable people. More than 50 Australians have successfully crossed the border and been met by Australian officials, while more than 150 have received border codes for Azerbaijan. A backlog of Australian requests for Azerbaijan border crossing codes was cleared after representations by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and consular officials. The department is advising Australians in Iran to leave now, if it's safe to do so, noting that although the ceasefire is holding for now, the situation remains volatile and can change quickly. The department's ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited, given the environment in Iran is much more challenging than in Israel. Australia's embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and staff were recently evacuated. Travellers are urged to keep checking the Smartraveller website for updates. A ceasefire was reached after 12 days of war, which erupted on June 13 when Israel launched missile at Iranian military and nuclear sites. It came a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. The assault triggered waves of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, before the US intervened with a strike aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program and forcing a truce between the two nations. Australian citizens are beginning to be flown out of Iran but escape options remain limited amid fears of more Israeli attacks. Five Australians have left Iran on a commercial flight from Mashhad, in the nation's north-east, for Dubai with Australian government assistance. In the week since the fragile truce between Israel and Iran began, airports in Iran's capital Tehran remain closed. Limited flights out of eastern Iran are opening up, with the Department of Foreign Affairs contacting hundreds of registered travellers to alert them about seats as they become available. More than 3000 Australians wanting to leave Iran have registered with the department for assistance and family members in Australia are concerned that options to cross the border into Azerbaijan are unfeasible for vulnerable people. More than 50 Australians have successfully crossed the border and been met by Australian officials, while more than 150 have received border codes for Azerbaijan. A backlog of Australian requests for Azerbaijan border crossing codes was cleared after representations by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and consular officials. The department is advising Australians in Iran to leave now, if it's safe to do so, noting that although the ceasefire is holding for now, the situation remains volatile and can change quickly. The department's ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited, given the environment in Iran is much more challenging than in Israel. Australia's embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and staff were recently evacuated. Travellers are urged to keep checking the Smartraveller website for updates. A ceasefire was reached after 12 days of war, which erupted on June 13 when Israel launched missile at Iranian military and nuclear sites. It came a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. The assault triggered waves of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, before the US intervened with a strike aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program and forcing a truce between the two nations.