Ciudad Juarez, Mex. (BN24) – Mexican investigators have uncovered 383 bodies along with the partial remains of six others inside a crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, a grim discovery that officials say raises troubling questions about why the remains were never cremated.
The Chihuahua state prosecutor, César Jáuregui, said Monday the deceased appeared to have been stored for at least three to four years.
“Who knows what the ulterior motive of these subjects was,” Jáuregui said at a news conference. “Because storing that number also makes you think they weren’t providing the service.”
The investigation began after an anonymous caller alerted authorities to the facility. When officials entered the building last Thursday, they were confronted with the staggering number of bodies.
The crematorium had contracts to handle remains from six funeral homes in Ciudad Juarez, but prosecutors said it was not yet clear why the corpses had been kept instead of cremated.
The facility’s owner and an employee were taken into custody as authorities continued to examine records and interview witnesses.
The Trump administration has formalized its push to revoke the U.S. citizenship of some naturalized Americans, releasing a Justice Department memo that directs government attorneys to prioritize denaturalization cases involving individuals convicted of certain crimes.
The memo, dated June 11, instructs federal lawyers to pursue civil proceedings against any person who either illegally obtained naturalization or who secured citizenship by concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
This move could affect many of the approximately 25 million U.S. citizens who immigrated to the country after birth, according to 2023 data. The directive identifies 10 priority categories for denaturalization, focusing on individuals involved in war crimes, extrajudicial killings, serious human rights violations, gang activity, and other criminal conduct deemed to pose an ongoing threat to the United States.
Unlike criminal cases, civil denaturalization proceedings do not guarantee the right to an attorney. The government also faces a lower burden of proof, making it easier to revoke citizenship.
The directive grants Justice Department lawyers broad latitude to bring cases, including against those who lie on immigration forms, commit financial or medical fraud, or are referred by a U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with pending criminal charges.
A Justice Department official described the policy as necessary to protect national security and the integrity of the immigration system. But immigration advocates and civil liberties organizations have raised alarm, saying the policy risks creating a second-class status for millions of Americans.
“It is kind of, in a way, trying to create a second class of U.S. citizens,” Sameera Hafiz, policy director of the Immigration Legal Resource Center, told NPR. “It strips people of rights—including the right to counsel—and lowers the evidentiary bar to take away citizenship.”
The denaturalization directive is part of broader efforts by Trump’s Justice Department Civil Rights Division to reshape longstanding priorities. Under Trump, the division has been tasked with dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in government and opposing transgender medical care, among other initiatives.
The civil rights division has also launched high-profile investigations, including a probe into the University of Virginia’s DEI programs that led to the resignation of the university’s president, Jim Ryan, on Friday.
Meanwhile, the department recently sued 15 district attorneys in Maryland over an order blocking deportations of migrants challenging their removal.
Internal turmoil has reportedly accompanied these shifts. According to NPR, about 250 attorneys—roughly 70% of the Civil Rights Division’s legal staff—departed between January and May.
The memo’s release follows at least one recent denaturalization. On June 13, a judge ordered the citizenship revocation of Elliott Duke, a U.S. military veteran born in the U.K., after he was convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material he had failed to disclose during naturalization.
Immigration lawyers fear more cases could soon follow.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BN24) — Brazilian side Fluminense delivered a stunning upset over Inter Milan with a 2-0 victory on Monday night, booking a place in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup and setting up a potential showdown with Manchester City.
The breakthrough came early, as striker Germán Cano’s diving header in just the third minute gave the South American champions an immediate edge. Despite sustained pressure from Inter, Fluminense weathered the storm and struck again late in the game. Substitute Hercules curled a brilliant effort from the edge of the area to seal the win in the closing 25 minutes, against the run of play.
Inter Milan, who came into the match as heavy favorites, created numerous chances to equalize. Star forward Lautaro Martinez rattled the post and narrowly missed with a series of close efforts. Federico Dimarco also came close, bending two free-kicks just off target and firing a tight-angled shot that flew inches wide. The Italians’ best opportunity may have fallen to Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij, whose shot from Martinez’s knockdown failed to find the back of the net.
The match drew only 20,030 fans to Charlotte’s 74,867-capacity Bank of America Stadium, marking the final match to be played there during the tournament.
With the win, Fluminense join domestic rivals Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarterfinals. They will face the winner of Manchester City vs. Al-Hilal in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash Friday at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
The Club World Cup has long carried greater emotional weight for South American clubs, and that dynamic was once again evident. Fluminense’s players and fans erupted at the final whistle, reflecting the tournament’s heightened significance in Brazil. With searing heat, difficult pitch conditions, and raucous Latin American fan support throughout the U.S. host cities, the environment heavily favored the Brazilian side.
For Inter Milan, Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez came alive in the final 30 minutes after tactical changes freed him from early constraints, but he ultimately couldn’t break through. His partner Marcus Thuram, however, delivered an anonymous performance and failed to influence the match.
On the opposite end, Fluminense’s veterans shone. Forty-four-year-old goalkeeper Fábio was commanding, legendary defender Thiago Silva anchored the backline with poise, and winger Jhon Arias posed a constant threat.
Fluminense advance to face either European champions Manchester City or Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal on Friday in the quarterfinals — a massive opportunity to further cement Brazil’s dominance in this year’s tournament.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, will return to Italy and prepare for the start of the Serie A season, which kicks off in August with a visit to Torino.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk escalated his opposition to President Donald Trump’s controversial tax-and-spending bill on Monday, vowing to help defeat lawmakers who supported the legislation despite campaigning on promises of fiscal restraint.
After a period of public silence following a high-profile feud with Trump, Musk reignited the debate over the bill as the Senate considered the sweeping package over the weekend. He labeled the legislation “utterly insane and destructive” in a post on X, the platform he owns.
By Monday, Musk’s tone had sharpened further. “Lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but voted for this bill should hang their heads in shame!” Musk posted. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also renewed his call for the creation of a third political force, slamming both parties for enabling what he described as out-of-control spending. “We live in a one-party country — the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” he wrote.
Musk’s opposition to the bill marks a dramatic fracture in his once-close alliance with Trump. The tech mogul previously donated nearly $300 million to Trump’s re-election campaign and served as the head of the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a contentious federal cost-cutting program Musk claimed saved billions.
Now, Musk argues the new legislation threatens to undo those savings, balloon the national debt, and erode any serious commitment to financial discipline in Washington.
It remains uncertain what direct influence Musk’s campaign threats might have on lawmakers, or on the bill’s final passage. Still, his high-profile criticism is causing discomfort among Republicans concerned about internal divisions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where control of Congress hangs in the balance.
Musk’s attacks have already had ripple effects beyond the political sphere. Tesla’s stock, long sensitive to the billionaire’s public remarks, experienced sharp swings following the controversy — wiping out approximately $150 billion in market value before partially recovering.
Despite the tensions, President Trump has not publicly responded to Musk’s latest remarks. However, GOP strategists worry the escalating feud could damage the party’s image with fiscally conservative voters and donors, especially as Musk continues to command a significant platform and loyal following online.
Moscow (BN24) – Russia’s occupation authorities in eastern Ukraine declared Monday that Moscow’s forces have seized control of the entirety of the Luhansk region—one of four Ukrainian territories Russia illegally annexed in 2022, despite never fully holding them.
If confirmed, the claim would mark the first time in more than three years of war that Russian troops have established complete military control over an entire annexed region.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-installed head of occupied Luhansk, announced the development in an interview with Russia’s Channel One. He said he was informed “literally two days ago” that “100%” of Luhansk is now under Russian control. Kyiv has not publicly responded to the claim, and independent verification was not immediately possible.
The declaration underscores Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to back down from demands that Kyiv cede the four regions Moscow claims as Russian territory. Putin has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire or withdrawal, even as international diplomatic initiatives, including recent U.S.-backed talks, have failed to advance negotiations.
Russia’s claim came the same day Germany’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, arrived in Kyiv to demonstrate support and promote new arms manufacturing partnerships aimed at boosting Ukraine’s defense capacity.
Standing alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Wadephul emphasized that bolstering Ukraine’s defense industry is essential to improving its leverage in any future peace talks.
“When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery,” Wadephul said at a news conference. “His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far.”
Wadephul, joined by German defense industry executives, said Germany intends to help Ukraine launch new joint ventures that could produce weapons faster and at scale.
“We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defense,” he said. “Our arms cooperation is a real trump card, a logical continuation of our delivery of material.”
Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest military backer after the United States, where uncertainty over continued aid has intensified Ukraine’s sense of vulnerability.
The visit followed Russia’s largest combined aerial assault on Ukraine to date. Over the weekend, Ukrainian officials reported waves of drone and missile strikes across the country.
Ukraine’s air force said it detected 107 Russian Shahed drones and decoys overnight—part of what analysts described as an effort to deplete Ukrainian air defenses before launching cruise and ballistic missile attacks.
“Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported.
In Kharkiv, Russian strikes killed at least two civilians and injured eight more, including a 6-year-old child, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Foreign Minister Sybiha urged Berlin to accelerate delivery of additional antimissile systems, calling air defense “the key” to protecting Ukrainian cities and morale.
“The Russians are attacking civilian targets in order to create panic,” Sybiha said.
Despite deepening military cooperation, Berlin has so far refused to supply Kyiv with Taurus long-range missiles—capable of striking targets deep inside Russia—citing fears of escalating the war and triggering a wider NATO conflict.
Instead, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to support Ukraine in developing its own long-range weapons systems, which would be exempt from Western-imposed restrictions on use.
Russia’s potential full control of Luhansk underscores the continued risk of further Ukrainian territorial losses if international military assistance wanes. Moscow’s announcement highlights its determination to entrench occupation while grinding down Ukraine’s resources and civilian resilience with near-daily bombardment.
As fighting stretches into a fourth year with no sign of peace, Ukrainian and Western leaders warn that Russia’s latest gains illustrate why support must not weaken.
Iran (BN24) –Two of Iran’s most influential clerics have issued sweeping new religious decrees declaring that any insult, threat, or aggression directed at Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei constitutes an assault on the essence of Islam itself—an offense that, under Iran’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, is punishable by death.
The fatwas—issued Sunday by Grand Ayatollah Hosein Noori Hamedani and Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi—state that such acts amount to moharebeh, or “waging war against God,” one of the gravest charges in the Islamic Republic’s penal code.
Noori Hamedani’s decree goes further, specifying that “whoever provides assistance in this crime will carry the same guilt.”
While the fatwas did not name any individual or government, they followed questions about recent comments by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting they would consider targeting Khamenei amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
The decrees were published widely by Iranian state media on the same day the Iranian parliament released details of a new bill that significantly broadens the definition of crimes against national security. The combination has alarmed lawyers and rights advocates, who warn the measures could pave the way for more executions and severe crackdowns on dissent.
According to text published by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the bill categorizes a broad range of activities as potential capital offenses, including:
“Any action or cooperation in carrying out political, cultural, media, and propaganda activities,”
“Creating and reflecting artificial damage,”
“Publishing false news that causes public fear or terror,” and
“Creating division or harming national security.”
The bill proposes that those convicted of these acts could be found guilty of corruption on earth, an offense that carries the death penalty. Courts would have discretion to instead impose prison terms of 10 to 15 years.
“It is really terrifying,” a Tehran-based attorney told ABC News on condition of anonymity. “The new bill keeps the interpretation of the crimes so widely open that any activity can now be easily labeled as ‘corruption on earth,’ while formerly the same actions would have been prosecuted as ‘propaganda against the regime’ with much shorter prison sentences.”
“Neither the new law nor the fatwa is in favor of the defendants,” the lawyer added.
In Shia Islam, a fatwa is issued by a marja, a senior cleric whose rulings guide the religious obligations of followers. While many fatwas deal with everyday questions—such as prayer, fasting, or ethical conduct—others have had far-reaching social and political consequences.
One of the most notorious examples was the 1989 decree by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini calling for the death of novelist Salman Rushdie. Rushdie was stabbed in 2022 in New York by an assailant who prosecutors said showed “strong indicators of ideological support for the Iranian regime,” though Tehran denied any involvement.
Under Iran’s constitution, judges are empowered to request or rely on “credible fatwas” in cases where the law does not explicitly define a crime.
“Now we see both the law and the fatwa are issued,” the Tehran lawyer said. “It is deeply concerning how it will affect future trials.”
Rights groups warn that the convergence of the fatwas and the legislation could further erode what remains of freedom of expression in Iran, exposing not only critics of the supreme leader but also ordinary protesters and journalists to the risk of capital punishment.
The new measures arrive amid an intensified clampdown on dissent, including rapid executions and mass arrests, as the Iranian government seeks to suppress opposition during a period of regional crisis and internal unrest.
Washington, DC (BN24) – President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria, fulfilling a promise he made in May to help stabilize the war-torn country.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision was intended to “promote and support Syria’s path to stability and peace.”
Trump announced his plans to ease sanctions during a meeting last month with Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa—a former al-Qaeda insurgent who fought U.S. troops in Iraq and was once imprisoned at Abu Ghraib. At the time, Trump urged al-Sharaa to pursue conditions that included normalizing ties with Israel and the United States.
Senior administration officials briefing reporters said the executive order dismantles the broader framework of sanctions imposed by previous administrations, while retaining targeted measures against Bashar al-Assad, his associates, and other destabilizing actors in the region.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack described the move as an opportunity for Syria’s interim government to rebuild.
“You have a general who transitioned from wartime into being the leader of a reframed new country that needs everything,” Barrack said. “Syria needs to be given a chance, and that’s what’s happened.”
Barrack emphasized the administration’s approach was not about dictating terms.
“Neither the president nor the secretary of state is nation building,” he said. “They’re not requiring a democratic model. They’re giving Syria an opportunity, with criteria that we will monitor—whether it’s integrating foreign fighters, protecting U.S. allies who fought ISIS, or supporting the Abraham Accords.”
Brad Smith, the acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury Department, said the order gives the U.S. flexibility to maintain restrictions where necessary.
“The significance of this moment cannot be overstated,” Smith said. “While we remain hopeful for Syria’s future, we are clear-eyed that threats to peace remain. Treasury will not hesitate to act to protect U.S. interests and the international financial system.”
A senior administration official said the aim was not to maintain leverage over Syria but to create incentives for its leadership to sign onto the Abraham Accords, the series of normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states brokered by the Trump administration.
“Leverage is not what we’re interested in doing,” the official said. “The president ripped the sanctions off without any conditions. It’s to Syria’s benefit to lean towards Israel.”
The official added that there have been reports of backchannel talks between Syria and Israel.
“So the way to entice them is to make it fruitful on an economic basis, on a peace and prosperity basis,” the official said. “What’s happened between Israel and Iran creates that window.”
While Monday’s executive order and the earlier suspension of many restrictions ease pressure on Damascus, the administration acknowledged further action from Congress may be needed to permanently remove all penalties.
“We are now—pursuant to the executive order—going to look at suspension criteria for the Caesar Act,” the official said, referring to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, which imposed enhanced sanctions on foreign entities dealing with Assad’s government.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had issued a 180-day waiver of the Caesar Act sanctions in May.
“Ultimately Congress has the power to repeal the act,” the official noted.
Idaho (BN24) – Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to all charges in the brutal slayings of four University of Idaho students, avoiding the possibility of a death sentence, according to a letter prosecutors sent to the victims’ families.
Under the plea agreement, Kohberger will receive four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders, plus the maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for burglary. He has also agreed to waive all rights to appeal.
Sentencing is expected to take place in late July, provided Kohberger formally enters his plea at a change of plea hearing schedule
The agreement arrives just weeks before the high-profile trial was set to begin. Jury selection had been scheduled for August 4, with opening statements planned for August 18.
Prosecutors said Kohberger’s defense team reached out last week seeking a plea offer. After meeting with victims’ family members and weighing their input, the state extended a formal proposal.
“This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family,” prosecutors wrote in the letter to relatives. “This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals.”
The state also intends to seek restitution on behalf of the victims’ families.
Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary for the November 13, 2022, stabbings that claimed the lives of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin.
The four students were attacked in the girls’ off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho, during the early morning hours. Two other roommates survived, including one who told investigators she encountered a man dressed in black and wearing a mask inside the house. She described him as “not very muscular, but athletically built with bushy eyebrows,” according to court documents.
The killings devastated the small college town and triggered a nearly seven-week nationwide search.
Kohberger, then a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, was arrested in December 2022 at his family’s home in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors later disclosed that DNA matching Kohberger’s was recovered from a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to one of the victims.
Defense attorneys previously argued that Kohberger was driving alone the night of the murders.
London (BN24) – Bob Vylan have been dropped by their talent agency and had their U.S. visas revoked after the duo’s controversial set at Glastonbury Festival sparked widespread condemnation and accusations of incitement to violence.
During their Saturday performance on the West Holts Stage, frontman Bobby Vylan led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF,” prompting fierce criticism from politicians, broadcasters, and campaign groups.
The BBC, which streamed the set live, said it regretted not halting the broadcast. Media regulator Ofcom announced it was urgently investigating whether the corporation breached editorial standards.
On Monday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed Bob Vylan’s American visas had been canceled ahead of a planned tour.
“The State Department has revoked the U.S. visas for the members of Bob Vylan in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants,” Landau posted on X. “Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
Sky News reported that United Talent Agency had terminated its representation of the band.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the group’s remarks as “appalling hate speech,” while Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the chants especially offensive in light of last October’s massacre at the Nova music festival in Israel.
Festival organizer Emily Eavis said Bob Vylan had “very much crossed a line,” and reiterated that Glastonbury would not tolerate antisemitism or incitement to violence.
The BBC initially defended its decision to display an on-screen warning for “strong and discriminatory language.” However, it issued a stronger statement on Monday:
“The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. We welcome Glastonbury’s condemnation of the performance,” the broadcaster said. “The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.”
A spokesperson added that the performance had not been made available on demand and that the BBC would review its guidance for covering live events.
An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed the regulator was investigating:
“We are very concerned about the live stream of this performance, and the BBC clearly has questions to answer. We are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its editorial guidelines.”
Police said they were reviewing footage of Bob Vylan’s and fellow performers Kneecap’s sets to determine whether any criminal offences were committed.
Israel’s embassy in the UK condemned the chants as “inflammatory and hateful rhetoric,” claiming they advocated “the dismantling of the State of Israel.” The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it would formally complain to the BBC over what it called an “outrageous decision” to air the performance.
Bobby Vylan defended the set in an Instagram post, saying:
“Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place… it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”
Some festival-goers expressed understanding of the anger over Gaza but criticized the chants.
“Inciting more death and violence is not the way to do it,” said Lucy McMullin, who attended the performance.
Women and Equalities Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith told Sky News she was surprised the BBC continued broadcasting:
“It clearly over-stepped the mark.”
Bob Vylan’s set included a backdrop stating that Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to “genocide,” and footage showed some in the crowd joining the chants.
The performance followed months of global outrage over the war in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments since October.
Prime Minister Starmer, pressed on whether he retained confidence in BBC Director-General Tim Davie, declined to give a direct answer.
Tel Aviv, Israel (BN24) – Israeli forces shot and killed at least 22 Palestinians and wounded 20 more in Gaza on Monday, many of them as they tried to collect urgently needed food, according to witnesses, hospitals, and Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The incident is part of a deadly pattern linked to the controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), which has replaced the United Nations as the primary channel for aid distribution. Over the past month, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the chaos around these deliveries.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 11 bodies of people shot while returning from a GHF distribution point. Another 10 were killed at a United Nations aid warehouse in northern Gaza.
Witness Accounts of the Shooting The southern incident occurred about three kilometers from the GHF site in Khan Younis, along the sole accessible route home. Palestinians described Israeli troops in tanks and armored vehicles speeding toward them, firing warning shots before opening fire directly into the crowds.
“They fired at us indiscriminately,” said Yousef Mahmoud Mokheimar, who was shot in the leg. He described seeing a man gunned down while trying to help him and said soldiers detained six people, including three children. “We don’t know whether they are still alive,” he added.
Another witness, Monzer Hisham Ismail, said the crowd was returning from an American-run hub when artillery fire struck.
Nasser Hospital also reported a separate fatal shooting near a GHF point in Rafah.
Military Response The Israeli military said it was reviewing reports of the attacks. In previous statements about similar incidents, it has maintained that troops fire warning shots if people approach soldiers or behave suspiciously while gathering aid.
Israel has pushed to replace U.N.-coordinated deliveries with the GHF, arguing Hamas routinely diverts food and supplies to bolster its rule. The U.N. denies any systematic theft.
In response to criticism, Israel says it has made efforts to improve the organization of aid, including putting up fencing, new signage, and opening additional routes.
Escalation in Northern Gaza In northern Gaza, Israeli strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians at a U.N. aid warehouse in Gaza City. Rescue workers said the area had become inaccessible to ambulances as bombardment intensified across the city and Jabaliya refugee camp.
Fares Awad, head of emergency services in northern Gaza, said most neighborhoods were cut off by continuous air and artillery attacks. “Ambulances can’t reach the people under the rubble,” he said.
Residents described the bombardment as a “scorched earth” campaign. “They destroy whatever is left standing,” said Mohamed Mahdy, a Gaza City resident who fled his damaged home.
Strike on Popular Gaza Beach Café According to medics and eyewitnesses cited by the BBC, at least 20 Palestinians were killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike on Al-Baqa Cafeteria, a seafront café popular among journalists, aid workers, and residents.
“I was on my way to the café to use the internet when a massive explosion hit,” said Aziz Al-Afifi, a cameraman. “The scene was horrific—bodies, blood, screaming everywhere.”
Videos posted on social media showed the missile strike and its aftermath. The café, a makeshift venue of tents and tables on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, had become a rare space for communication and respite.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack.
Wider Bombardment and Evacuations The café strike was part of a wave of Israeli air raids overnight. Witnesses reported dozens of bombs falling on densely populated areas of Gaza City’s east, including Shujaiya, Tuffah, and Zeitoun.
One strike reportedly hit a school sheltering displaced families. Another airstrike on Al Shati refugee camp killed five people, according to local reports.
Residents said many families fled westward within Gaza City instead of south as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) instructed, fearing further attacks.
“This is the seventh time we’ve been forced to flee,” said Abeer Talba, a mother of seven. “We’re in the streets again. No food. No water. My children are starving. Death feels kinder than this.”
Ceasefire Prospects and Political Pressure The fresh violence came as international pressure grew on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Netanyahu was negotiating a deal with Hamas “right now,” although talks remained stalled.
A ceasefire deal reached in January collapsed in March when Israel resumed airstrikes, later imposing a total blockade on humanitarian aid. The blockade was only partially lifted after 11 weeks, under pressure from U.S. allies and warnings of famine.
Since then, the GHF’s operations have repeatedly turned deadly as desperate crowds gather around aid trucks and distribution sites.
Rising Toll According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign in response to the October attack that left about 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 hostages taken.
As bombardment continues and evacuation orders multiply, fears are growing that Israel plans to expand its ground offensive deeper into Gaza, risking even more civilian casualties.
