8 Palestinians killed, 14 wounded in Israeli strike on Gaza port

A deadly Israeli airstrike on a café in the Gaza port area has claimed the lives of at least eight Palestinians, including a child, and left 14 others wounded, according to Palestinian health officials. The site, which has served as a displacement area during the ongoing conflict, was targeted by Israeli forces who claimed they were striking Hamas commanders allegedly using the location to plan attacks.

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The strike targeted Hamas commanders who were allegedly using the location to plan attacks.

The strike occurred less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Jared Kushner, concluded a two-day diplomatic mission aimed at restarting a U.S.-backed peace roadmap. Kushner's efforts to bridge fundamental disagreements between Israel and Hamas, particularly concerning Hamas's disarmament and Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, appear to have been overshadowed by the renewed violence.

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Kushner first met Hamas political leaders in Cairo before traveling to Israel for a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

Despite descriptions of Kushner's meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "lengthy, in-depth, and very productive," reports suggest no significant breakthrough was achieved. Netanyahu insists on complete Hamas disarmament before any withdrawal, while Hamas demands an end to Israeli attacks and a withdrawal as preconditions. Kushner's statements indicated U.S. support for Israel's right to self-defense and warned of intensified military action if Hamas did not disarm, also linking Gaza's reconstruction to its demilitarization.

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The sides had agreed on a path forward.

The escalating violence has heightened concerns that continued Israeli military operations could derail the fragile peace process. This strike also comes amid public criticism from Arab and Islamic nations, who have condemned Israel's rejection of the roadmap and accused it of obstructing efforts to end the war. Foreign ministers from several key regional countries jointly criticized Israel's stance, warning it jeopardizes progress toward implementing the peace plan.

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The United States would not restrict Israel’s right to defend itself and warned that Israel could resume or intensify military action if Hamas failed to disarm.