Israel’s forces stands firm on Gaza strike that killed civilians

Israel’s forces have said they will “continue to operate against the Hamas terrorist organisation” despite causing dozens of civilian deaths in a targeted strike against a Hamas commander, the BBC reported on July 6th.

In north Gaza sits al-Baqa café, a scenic meeting spot, popular with the locals due to its vibrant atmosphere and unusually stable Wi-Fi connection. Despite the chaos of war, the café remained a place beloved amongst residents.

An Israeli strike decimated the small business on June 30th, with sources in Gaza saying an important Hamas commander was rumoured to be in the café at the time of the attack.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have taken cautious steps to minimise civilian casualties, even though there was a confirmed minimum of 29 civilians killed. Staff at Shifa Hospital counted more bodies, claiming on July 3rd there were 40 confirmed deaths and 72 injured from the strike.

This event comes as Israel and Hamas have recently begun negotiating a possible ceasefire deal. As Maghrebi reported on July 7th alongside The National via Reuters on July 4th, the talks seem to be heading towards a promising direction.

In regard to the strike, the IDF reportedly avoided answering questions concerning the disproportionate deaths of civilians, simply stating the situation was “under review.”

It held firm in its decision to conduct the strike, saying the forces would “continue to operate against the Hamas terrorist organisation in order to remove any threat posed to Israeli civilians.”

Among those killed were artists, students, social activists, café staff, a female boxer, and a footballer. The strike killed at least nine women and reportedly several children.

Israel’s war continues to churn through the Gaza strip, taking 57,338 lives since October 7th 2023.

BBC, Maghrebi.org, The National via Reuters