Flames at the Port: Israeli Missiles Hit Gaza Cafe, Killing 6 After Ceasefire Talks Collapse

GAZA CITY — An Israeli airstrike struck a seaside cafe at Gaza City’s fishing harbor, killing at least six Palestinians—including a child—and wounding 14 others. The fatal attack occurred just one day after U.S. envoy Jared Kushner ended an inconclusive diplomatic mission to the region aimed at advancing a stalled Gaza ceasefire plan.

The strike targeted the "Sweet and Bitter" cafe inside the crowded fishing harbor, an area that has transformed into a massive displacement camp for families during the ongoing war. Eyewitnesses reported that an Israeli aircraft fired two missiles directly into the venue, triggering panic as blood, debris, and shrapnel covered the ground. Medical teams and civilians rushed to transport casualties to Al-Shifa Hospital in private vehicles.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it carried out a precise aerial strike aimed at a gathering of elite Hamas Nukhba commanders and operatives. According to the military, the targets were actively planning attacks against Israeli troops in the territory, with at least one target having participated in the October 7, 2023, attack.

Conversely, Palestinian medical officials and civil defense workers condemned the strike for devastating a civilian space packed with displaced residents. Emergency responders noted that several victims were thrown into the port’s basin by the blast waves, requiring water rescue efforts alongside the initial trauma care.

The violence underscores the fragile security environment following the departure of Kushner, who left Jerusalem without securing a diplomatic breakthrough. Disagreements remain over the sequence of Hamas's disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces under President Donald Trump's broader Middle East roadmap.

Hamas issued a statement accusing Israeli leadership of executing the strike to deliberately sabotage ceasefire negotiations and regional peace initiatives. Meanwhile, mediators from Egypt and the U.S. continue to push for adherence to the framework as concerns mount over further violence in the enclave.