• Israeli forces killed at least 74 Palestinians in airstrikes and gunfire on Monday.
• Major casualties include strikes on Al-Baqa Café, resulting in at least 30 deaths.
• The ongoing assault since October has claimed over 56,000 Palestinian lives, according to local health authorities.
• Israeli military claims to be targeting Hamas, initiating a series of evacuations in northern Gaza.
• Witnesses report shots fired at civilians seeking food aid, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

On Monday, Israeli airstrikes and gunfire resulted in at least 74 Palestinian deaths, with significant casualties occurring at Al-Baqa Café, a popular seaside gathering spot in Gaza City, where at least 30 people were killed when a warplane struck the cafe without warning. Eyewitness reports describe a scene of chaos and destruction, with numerous critically injured being rushed to local hospitals, according to Africanews and NPR.

In addition to the strikes on the café, at least 44 other Palestinians were killed throughout Gaza during similar operations. This includes individuals shot while seeking food aid from distribution centers operated by the U.S.-Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF). Witnesses described scenes of artillery fire targeting civilians returning from these centers, with numerous victims confirmed at local medical facilities, according to reports from Anadolu Agency and India Times.

The attacks come amid intensified airstrikes by Israeli forces, particularly in northern Gaza, leading to widespread destruction of infrastructure and heavy civilian casualties. More than 500 Palestinians have reportedly died in chaotic incidents related to the GHF aid distribution in just the past month alone, emphasizing the humanitarian crisis unfolding around these operations, as detailed in multiple sources including Los Angeles Times and Anadolu Agency.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli military continues to conduct operations, claiming to target Hamas fighters embedded among civilian populations. This has significantly raised tensions as reports indicate civilian areas like homes and clinics have been repeatedly attacked, prompting accusations against Israel from various humanitarian organizations regarding breaches of international law aimed at non-combatants, according to Aljazeera.

As the situation deteriorates, Gaza's health ministry has reported the death toll since October 2023 has exceeded 56,000, with the majority being women and children, raising alarms about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the need for urgent international mediation, as outlined by local health officials and confirmed in various investigations, including Anadolu Agency and South China Morning Post.