An Israeli airstrike on a cafe in Gaza City's port has killed at least six people and wounded fourteen others, according to Palestinian medical officials. The al-Shifa Hospital received several bodies following the attack on Tuesday, which struck a crowded cafe that had become a makeshift displacement camp for families fleeing the conflict.

The attack comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject a United States-backed plan to end hostilities in the enclave. Netanyahu, facing pressure from his key ally, insists that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza unless Hamas agrees to disarm first. Hamas, however, maintains that it will only surrender its weapons once Israel pulls out its soldiers, who currently occupy about 60 percent of the territory.

The Israeli military claimed it was targeting a gathering of Hamas commanders planning attacks, but has provided no evidence to support this assertion. In a statement following the strike, Hamas denounced the attack as a "blatant disregard for all calls for a ceasefire issued by mediators and guarantor states."

Footage shared on social media shows several Palestinians lying on blood-stained ground as witnesses rush the injured to waiting ambulances. Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said the attack occurred as many people in the port emerged from their tents to escape the extreme heat. "These attacks happen in an unpredictable way. You could be walking in the street; you could be sitting in a cafe when such attacks happen because there are no prior warnings," he reported.

The strike came a day after Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy, concluded an unsuccessful visit to the region aimed at advancing Washington's 15-point peace plan. Both Hamas and Netanyahu refused to budge on their demands following meetings with the envoy, leaving the plan in limbo.

Netanyahu is seeking another term as prime minister in elections due in October. It is widely expected that he will continue to refuse Trump's peace plan until at least after the vote to avoid harming his electoral prospects, as his ruling coalition continues to trail in opinion polls. The ongoing violence and diplomatic stalemate raise questions about the viability of any near-term resolution to the conflict.

Source: www.aljazeera.com