The Israeli Defense Forces killed at least 30 people in a strike on a cafe in northern Gaza overnight, according to witnesses and local medical officials.
It follows an announcement that the army has “learned lessons” from a review of a U.S-Israeli aid model.
In an update last week, the United Nations said IDF soldiers had killed at least 410 Palestinians trying to get food and supplies.
The U.S. has also flagged a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be closer to reality.
Here’s the latest.
Latest attacks
The IDF attacked Gaza City and Jabalia overnight, both located in the northern part of the strip.
It sent out an evacuation alert ahead of the strikes for neighbourhoods in the north, including the Jabalia refugee camp. IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a statement on social media that the area would turn into an “active combat zone” as the army worked to “destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations in those areas”.
Palestinians had previously been allowed to return to northern Gaza during a ceasefire earlier this year.
Yesterday, the military struck a seaside cafe, reportedly a popular gathering spot for locals.
Authorities from the nearby Al-Shifa Hospital told The New York Times the IDF killed at least 30 people by striking the cafe.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has yet to comment directly.
The IDF also bombed four schools where displaced Palestinians had been sheltering, killing at least another 28.
According to data cited by the UN, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Aid centres
After a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down earlier this year, Israel instituted an aid blockade to Gaza. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu partially lifted the blockade in May following international criticism.
The World Health Organisation has said Gaza’s 2.1 million people are facing prolonged food shortages.
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Aid is currently being distributed by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a non-government organisation with U.S. and Israeli support.
The UN reports at least 410 killings at aid sites, while the Gaza Health Ministry says nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed.
Last week, Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported testimonies from IDF soldiers saying they were told to target anyone accessing the sites. Israel initially denied this is the case, but said it would investigate.
Speaking to reporters last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the GHF model is “killing people”.
Overnight, UK representative at the UN Security Council Fergus Eckersley said the sites are “supposed to be saving lives” but are “leading to mass casualties”.
Investigation
The IDF has launched an investigation into the GHF sites, aimed at “minimizing friction with the population, and ensuring that the aid reaches its intended recipients.”
It said it was making changes “based on lessons previously learned”. The IDF says it is at these aid centres to divert deliveries away from Hamas.
Israeli outlet The Times of Israel has quoted an IDF statement taking responsibility for some of the civilian deaths. TDA and other international outlets have been unable to independently verify the statement.
Ceasefire
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas could be achieved “within a week”.
In follow-up comments over the weekend on Truth Social, Trump said: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”
Of the hostages taken on 7 October 2023, 50 are believed to remain in Gaza, more than half of whom are confirmed dead.
Multiple attempts at a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have failed.
A U.S-led ceasefire proposal was sent to both sides in May. It stalled after Hamas proposed what Trump envoy Steve Witkoff called “totally unacceptable” amendments to the deal accepted by Israel, including a permanent end to the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely expected to visit the White House next week, where it’s believed he and Trump will discuss the progress of the ceasefire deal.
