74 killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza cafe and aid sites ahead of Netanyahu-Trump talks
It comes as the death toll from Israeli attacks on aid distribution sites grows to over 500 in the past month
At least 74 people have reportedly been killed in a series of Israeli attacks in Gaza on Monday, including one targeting a busy cafe and another which struck Palestinians desperately seeking food aid.
An Israeli airstrike hit the seaside Al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza City on Monday, killing 30 people and injuring dozens more, according to health officials. The cafe was crowded with people seeking internet access and a place to charge their phones, The Associated Press reported.
Two other strikes reportedly hit a Gaza City street, killing 15 people, while another struck a building near the town of Zawaida, killing six people. Meanwhile, Israeli forces opened fire on 11 people returning from an aid distribution site, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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Ten other people were killed at a UN aid warehouse in northern Gaza, the Ministry said. It comes as the death toll from Israeli attacks on aid distribution sites grows to over 500 in the past month.
The new US-Israeli backed aid distribution sites were opened in Gaza a month ago. The sites were opened after Israel faced international condemnation for blocking the entry of all food, water and other aid supplies to Gaza for nearly three months.
Israel said it would use private security contractors to take control of the distribution of aid supplies in Gaza, accusing Hamas of keeping aid for itself, without providing evidence. The UN has denounced the new aid distribution system, saying it won’t be able to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and allows Israel to use food to control the population.
The UN has refused to take part in the new aid system, saying it violates humanitarian principles. The organization argues it could be used by Israel to forcibly displace Palestinians, by requiring them to move near distribution hubs or else face starvation.
Thousands of Palestinians walk for hours to reach the aid sites, moving through Israeli army zones where witnesses say troops regularly open fire to control the crowds, AP reported.
It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet US President Donald Trump for talks at the White House next Monday. Trump is pushing for Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire to end the bloody war, which began in October 2023.
The trip will be Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since Trump took office in January.
It comes after the US intervened in Israel’s war against Iran by attacking Iranian nuclear sites earlier this month. Trump subsequently brokered a ceasefire between the two countries.
