An Israeli air assault struck the Al-Baqa Cafeteria, a popular seafront cafe in Gaza City, killing a Hamas fighter while simultaneously taking the lives of dozens of innocent civilians — including artists, students, and children.

Before the attack, the cafe was a hub of normal life, bustling with visitors enjoying their tea, scrolling through social media on their phones, or celebrating birthdays with family and friends. According to sources speaking to journalists, a Hamas militant in civilian clothing had quietly arrived and taken a seat in a corner of the cafe moments before the tragedy unfolded.

Soon after his arrival, an Israeli aerial strike hit the cafe, blasting through the walls and creating a massive crater while unleashing horrific destruction.

Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes in the aftermath, with survivors desperately searching for missing loved ones amid the chaos.

One witness shared with reporters, “The scene was horrific, there were bodies, blood, screaming everywhere.”

Another described the damage in raw terms: “It was total destruction. A true massacre at Al-Baqa Cafeteria — a massacre that tears the heart apart.”

Among the deceased were women, young teenagers, and skilled professionals, including a female boxer, a footballer, and several staff members of the establishment. The youngest victims were students and children.

Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, where most of the wounded and deceased were transported, confirmed at least 40 fatalities as of Thursday, with several more dying later from their injuries.

A hospital official described heartbreaking scenes of dismembered and severely burned victims arriving for emergency care. The facility admitted 72 injured people, many of whom required urgent surgical intervention.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the strike and explained that its target was “terrorists” located at the cafe. They claimed measures had been implemented to “reduce the risk of civilian harm using aerial surveillance,” and noted that the incident was currently under review. However, they did not directly address the high civilian death toll or confirm the identity of the targeted individual.

The Al-Baqa Cafeteria itself, overlooking the Mediterranean coastline, had separate seating for families and men and had remained a busy meeting point despite the ongoing war, partly because of its stable internet connection.

Employees told journalists the cafe maintained a strict admission policy to prevent known militants from accessing the premises.

On the day of the attack, the Gaza City port district, where the cafe is located, had not been placed under any Israeli evacuation notice. Families of those killed expressed that they believed the cafe to be a relatively safe haven.

According to defense analysts speaking to reporters, the munitions used appeared to be a bomb delivered by a warplane, rather than a smaller missile fired from a drone — a detail that suggests a deliberate decision to ensure the target was hit.

One of those killed was 27-year-old Hisham Ayman Mansour, identified by Hamas sources as the probable intended target. A former member of Hamas’s military branch, he had been described by certain informants as a field commander, though his current role was not fully clear. Conflicting reports suggested his reasons for being there ranged from handling financial arrangements to simply stopping by for coffee.

Images shared on social media appeared to show Hisham at the cafe a day before the bombing, and again on the day of the attack, wearing the same clothing. Two of his relatives, including a child, also perished in the explosion.

The IDF did not confirm whether Hisham was the primary objective or if other Hamas figures were present. A former senior Israeli security source said that multiple Hamas members were struck in the attack, though only Hisham’s name was officially released by Hamas sources.

The greatest share of casualties were civilians. Among them was 17-year-old Sama Mohammad Abu Namous, who had gone to the cafe with her brother to study, relying on the venue’s internet connection. Sama died instantly, while her brother survived but suffered serious injuries.

Several cafe staff were also killed. A manager explained that they had gathered in a shaded outdoor area when the strike happened. A regular customer, Saeed Ahel, reported that six staff members had been killed. A mother’s heart-wrenching cries echoed as her two sons, both cafe employees, were carried lifeless from the wreckage.

Other victims included Malak Musleh, a young female boxer admired for her efforts to promote gender equality in sports. Her coach, Osama Ayoub, described her passion and perseverance: “She had a fire in her eyes and her words.”

Artist Amina Omar Al-Salmi, also known as Frans, was among the dead. Her paintings — including one depicting a blood-covered woman — have circulated widely after her death, drawing chilling comparisons with postmortem images of her.

Her sister, speaking from Sweden, recalled Amina’s last words: “She was happy and told me, ‘We’ll meet soon. You’ll see me at your place.’”

Because Gaza remains sealed off to international journalists, independent confirmation of details has been challenging. However, fragments of lives lost litter the cafe’s ruins — blood-soaked playing cards, a child’s shoe, and a ripped teddy bear lying among charred beams and shattered chairs, silently testifying to a human tragedy that unfolded in seconds.