The nightmare continues for Palestinians in Gaza, now entering its 20th month of relentless violence. On Monday, June 30, 2025, Israel launched a new airstrike on Gaza City, killing at least 100 people and injuring dozens more. Among the dead were 34 victims who lost their lives inside an internet café in western Gaza City, according to sources at Shifa Hospital where many bodies were transported.
“There are always a lot of people in this place—it sells drinks, has family areas, and provides internet access,” said 26-year-old Ahmed al-Najjar, who was at a nearby beach when he heard a “massive explosion.” He described the aftermath as a “massacre.”
“I saw human limbs scattered everywhere—mutilated and burnt corpses. The scene froze your blood. Others were screaming, crying, asking for help, while families mourned their dead,” he recounted.
Among the deceased was Ismail Abu Hatab, a photojournalist affiliated with Hamas’s media office, confirming the targeting of press personnel by Israeli forces. In addition, 11 others were killed near aid distribution centers in central and southern Gaza.
Hamas condemned what it called a “major escalation” in Israeli airstrikes, accusing the military of deliberately targeting civilians. Meanwhile, calls for a renewed ceasefire grow louder amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that Israel no longer has a strategic interest in continuing the war, citing damage to security, political standing, and the economy. On the diplomatic front, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry reported that conditions are ripe for resuming negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed the campaign in Gaza is nearing completion, emphasizing the primary goals of freeing hostages and defeating Hamas. U.S. President Joe Biden also expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire deal soon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on July 7 for talks with American officials, including discussions on regional security and the ongoing conflict.
The war began after a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,219 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken that day, 49 remain captive in Gaza, with 27 declared dead by the Israeli military. Since then, Israeli military operations have reportedly killed at least 56,531 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza Health Ministry figures cited by the UN.