Focus on civilian populace or non-governmental entities
In a shocking turn of events, an investigation has been launched into an alleged war crime involving the Israeli army's use of a 500lb (230kg) MK-82 general-purpose bomb in an airstrike on a crowded beachfront café in Gaza City on June 30, 2025. The attack, which took place at the iconic Al-Baqa café, a gathering place for artists, journalists, and liberals for four decades, resulted in the deaths of between 24 and 36 civilians, including children, women, elderly people, and several prominent figures in the arts and media[1][2][3].
Ordnance experts have identified fragments recovered from the site as parts of the MK-82 bomb, a widely used American munition known for its powerful blast radius of up to 300 meters and the scattering of deadly shrapnel over a large area. The large crater at the site further supports the use of such a heavy weapon[1][2].
International law experts have stated that deploying such a heavy and indiscriminate bomb in a densely populated civilian area, especially with the known presence of vulnerable individuals, is almost certainly unlawful. It may constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks causing civilian harm disproportionate to the anticipated military advantage[1][3]. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that the strike is under review and that steps were taken beforehand to mitigate civilian harm through aerial surveillance, though the attack area was reportedly not covered by evacuation warnings[1][3].
Among the victims of the Al-Baqa café attack were Dr. Marwan Al-Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital, who was killed in an Israeli air-to-ground missile attack on his apartment[1][3], Malak Musleh, the youngest boxer of the Gaza Strip[1][3], and Ismail Abu Hatab, a photojournalist who documented Israeli air strikes in Gaza City[1][3]. The friend of Abu Hatab stated that radicals like Israel's Finance Minister Smotrich want to expel the entire population of the Gaza Strip[1][3].
The attack on the Al-Baqa café sent shockwaves through Gaza City, killing 41 visitors instantly[1][3]. Over 100 injured are still being treated at Al-Shifa hospital days after the attack[1][3]. The tragedy has also highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with Israeli rockets and bombs striking daily and fishing operations off the coast becoming increasingly dangerous due to attacks by Israeli naval boats[1][3].
The quasi-ban on fishing off the coast of the Gaza Strip is likely to result in a loss of an important food source, adding to the hardships faced by the population[1][3]. Meanwhile, drones equipped with machine guns patrol over temporary refugee camps in Gaza, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis[1][3].
Human Rights Watch has called for an immediate investigation into the use of the MK-82 bomb in the Al-Baqa café attack, stating that the evidence points to the Israeli military's use of an MK-82 bomb, causing substantial civilian casualties, and this act is regarded by experts as potentially constituting a war crime due to the indiscriminate nature of the weapon and the presence of civilians[1][3]. The investigation is ongoing.
[1] Human Rights Watch, "Israel/Palestine: Evidence of War Crime in Gaza Café Attack," June 30, 2025. [2] Al Jazeera, "Israeli Airstrike Kills Dozens at Gaza Café," June 30, 2025. [3] The New York Times, "Al-Baqa Café Attack: Israeli Military's Use of MK-82 Bomb Under Investigation," July 1, 2025.
The ongoing investigation into the Al-Baqa café attack reveals potential war-and-conflicts implications, as international law experts suggest that the Israeli military's use of the MK-82 bomb may constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law. This general-news story underscores the political repercussions, with accusations that radicals demand the expulsion of the entire Gaza Strip population, contributing to the ongoing dangers faced by Palestinians and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
