While international mediators talk of renewed hopes for a ceasefire, the situation on the ground in Gaza tells a far darker story – one of continued devastation, rising casualties, and a humanitarian crisis with no end in sight.
On Monday, one of Gaza City’s few remaining beachfront cafes – a rare location still offering reliable internet access – was hit in a deadly airstrike.
The cafe was crowded at the time, and was popular with university students.
According to medical responders, at least 22 people were killed in the attack.
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Eyewitnesses described the horror of what happened. “Forget red lines. We’re past that. Nothing left to say. Looked around all I see is blood. Men, martyrs, limbs.
“Unbelievable. People come here to take a break from what they see inside Gaza. They come westward to breathe.”
Among the dead were Frans Al-Salmi, a prominent Palestinian artist, and Ismael Abu Khatab, a well-known photojournalist.
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More than 50 others were wounded in the blast.
Graphic images from the scene show chaos and carnage.
Images captured moments after the explosion show journalist Bayan Abu Sultan covered in blood and visibly dazed.
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The attack came as part of a broader escalation in airstrikes across the Gaza Strip.
In the last 24 hours, Israel has intensified its bombardment, launching some of the heaviest raids seen in recent weeks.
The strikes coincide with new evacuation orders issued for areas in northern Gaza, triggering yet another wave of mass displacement among an already devastated civilian population.
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Each day in Gaza brings new funerals and new grief. Civilians – exhausted, hungry, and increasingly desperate – have little choice but to endure.
Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, there is talk of a potential breakthrough.
A proposed 60-day truce, tied to a staged hostage exchange, remains on the table. Yet significant differences remain.
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Hamas wants a permanent end to the war, while the Israeli government insists on retaining the right to resume military operations once any temporary ceasefire expires.
These fundamental disagreements have repeatedly derailed negotiations in the past – and could do so again.
For the people trapped in Gaza, the renewed diplomatic efforts feel distant, abstract – as if unfolding on another planet.
