'Israeli' military used 500-pound (230kg) bomb in Gaza cafe strike: Report

The 'Israeli' military used a 500-pound (230kg) bomb, a powerful weapon that causes massive blast waves and scatters shrapnel over a wide area, when it struck a crowded beachfront cafe in Gaza on Monday, according to evidence reviewed by The Guardian.

Ordnance experts identified fragments recovered from the ruins of the al-Baqa cafe as parts of an MK-82 general-purpose bomb, a US-made weapon widely used in recent conflicts. The large crater left by the explosion further confirmed the use of this heavy munition.

Medical officials reported that between 24 and 36 Palestinians were killed in the attack, including a well-known filmmaker, an artist, a 35-year-old housewife, and a four-year-old child. Dozens more were injured, among them a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl.

International law experts told The Guardian that using such a large bomb in an area known to have many civilians, women, children, and the elderly, is almost certainly unlawful and may amount to a war crime. Under the Geneva Conventions, military forces are prohibited from launching attacks causing “excessive or disproportionate” civilian casualties compared to the anticipated military advantage.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) said the attack on the cafe is under review, emphasizing that “prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance.”

The al-Baqa cafe, a family-run business nearly 40 years old, was a popular spot for Gaza City’s youth and families. It had two floors, including an open upper deck and a lower floor with large windows facing the beach, features clearly visible from the air.

The port area where the cafe was located had not been included in any prior evacuation warnings issued by the IOF.