GAZA– A new investigation by The Guardian has revealed that Israeli forces used a 500-pound (230-kilogram) bomb during an airstrike on a seaside café in the Gaza Strip last Monday, causing widespread devastation and loss of life.
The bomb, identified as an MK-82, a powerful and indiscriminate weapon, created a massive blast crater and dispersed deadly shrapnel across a wide area.
Legal experts cited by The Guardian stated that the use of such a munition in a location known to be populated with civilians — including children, women, and the elderly, likely constitutes a violation of international law and may amount to a war crime.
Fragments of the bomb recovered from the wreckage of the Al-Baqa’a Café were identified by experts and photographed by The Guardian, confirming the use of the MK-82 bomb, a type commonly used in aerial bombing campaigns over past decades.
The Israeli military acknowledged the strike and claimed it is under internal review. It stated that “measures were taken to minimize civilian harm” prior to the attack.
According to medical personnel and local officials, between 24 and 36 Palestinians were killed in the strike, with dozens more injured.
Under international law and the Geneva Conventions, attacks that result in “excessive or disproportionate” civilian casualties relative to the anticipated military advantage are prohibited.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have waged a relentless military campaign in Gaza, described by numerous legal experts and human rights groups as genocidal. This campaign has involved systematic killings, mass displacement, deliberate starvation, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Despite growing international condemnation and repeated calls from the International Court of Justice to cease hostilities, the assault has continued unabated, with U.S. backing.
To date, the war has resulted in approximately 191,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, the majority of them women and children. More than 11,000 remain missing under the rubble, and famine has taken hold in parts of Gaza, claiming even more lives.
