Israeli airstrike on Gaza café kills 41 ahead of ceasefire talks, spotlighting civilian cost and geopolitical tension amid negotiations.

In the shadows of looming ceasefire negotiations, Gaza has once again been thrust into tragedy. On Monday, an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Baqa Café in Gaza City left at least 41 people dead and over 75 injured, according to health officials and eyewitness accounts. The incident, one of the deadliest in recent weeks, has reignited global concern over civilian safety and the seemingly indiscriminate violence that continues to devastate Gaza’s urban life.

Al-Baqa Café was more than just a place for leisure. Situated by the Mediterranean, it served as a vital hub for journalists, activists, and local residents. Amid prolonged blackouts and limited connectivity, it provided internet access, charging stations, and a sliver of normalcy. Witnesses described the café as crowded with women and children when it was struck without warning, a claim corroborated by survivor Ali Abu Ateila, who likened the blast to an earthquake.

The attack, coming just days before ceasefire talks are set to resume, underscores a troubling pattern in the Gaza conflict: intensified violence ahead of diplomacy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump next week in Washington, where discussions will center on ceasefire terms and the return of hostages. Meanwhile, Israel’s strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer is already in Washington, laying the groundwork for a potential agreement.

But how do such strikes — especially those targeting civilian infrastructure — serve the cause of peace? The timing of this latest assault suggests strategic positioning, perhaps meant to signal resolve or leverage at the negotiating table. Yet the human cost cannot be overlooked. Striking a café known as a refuge for civilians — particularly during a time when communication and electricity are scarce — raises questions of proportionality, necessity, and adherence to international humanitarian law.

Adding to the tragedy, further attacks in Gaza City and the town of Zawaida claimed another 21 lives, bringing the total to at least 62 Palestinian fatalities in one day. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, is overwhelmed, treating dozens of injuries amid dwindling resources and electricity shortages.

The optics of this event are stark. In the era of digital witness, images of bloodied bodies, shattered windows, and chaos flood social media feeds, intensifying global scrutiny. Human rights organizations are already calling for independent investigations and accountability, while international observers question whether these actions are compatible with the stated goal of achieving a ceasefire.

The political dimension cannot be ignored. Trump’s push to “make the deal in Gaza” frames the ceasefire not only as a humanitarian imperative but also as a geopolitical strategy. Yet peace brokered under the shadow of such violence risks being seen as coercive rather than conciliatory.

In the end, the Al-Baqa Café strike is a microcosm of the larger Gaza tragedy — where civilians often pay the highest price, diplomacy is pursued amidst destruction, and the lines between strategy and suffering blur dangerously. As negotiations move forward, the world must not only demand an end to hostilities but also accountability, transparency, and a commitment to protecting human life.

For peace to be genuine and sustainable, it must begin not in the halls of power but with respect for the lives lost in places like Al-Baqa — once a café, now a graveyard.