Israel's 230-Kg Bomb That Flattened Popular Gaza Cafe: All About US-Made MK-32

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Last Updated:July 03, 2025, 21:58 IST

An Israeli airstrike on Gaza's al-Baqa café killed 24-36 people, sparking international criticism.

An Israeli airstrike on a popular beachfront café in Gaza killed between 24 and 36 people on Monday, drawing sharp international criticism. Dozens more were injured in the strike, which hit the al-Baqa café, a well-known family-run spot in Gaza City’s port district.

The attack has raised serious questions about proportionality and civilian safety, especially given the type of bomb used and the number of people present at the time.

According to The Guardian, which cited weapon experts and debris recovered from the site, the Israeli military used a 230-kg US-made MK-82 general-purpose bomb. The large crater and fragments found in the rubble pointed to the use of this powerful explosive, which has a wide blast radius and is known for causing extensive destruction.

The Israeli army said Tuesday that it launched a review into a strike on a seafront Gaza cafe it says targeted militants, but which rescuers said killed 24 people.

In a statement to AFP regarding the incident, the army said it had struck “several Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip".

Gaza’s civil defence said at least 24 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in Monday’s strike on the Al-Baqa cafe, a prominent venue along Gaza City’s coastal promenade.

An army spokesperson said that “prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance".

“The incident is under review," he added.

The cafe and restaurant, which had so far survived more than 20 months of war and intense bombings on the Palestinian territory, had become a gathering spot for those not displaced by the conflict.

“There’s always a lot of people at that spot, which offers drinks, spaces for families, and internet access," said Ahmad al-Nayrab, 26, who was walking on the nearby beach when he heard a loud explosion.

“It was a massacre," he told AFP.

“I saw bits of bodies flying everywhere, bodies mangled and burned. It was a bloodcurdling scene; everybody was screaming."

What Is The MK-82

The MK-82 is a 500-pound (roughly 230-kg) general-purpose bomb manufactured in the United States and widely used by militaries across the world. Designed to strike a variety of ground targets, it carries a high-explosive warhead and is known for its destructive impact in densely built-up areas. The bomb can be fitted with different types of guidance kits, but even in its unguided form, it is considered powerful enough to cause significant blast damage across a wide radius.

Earlier this year, two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with US forces, officials said, with civilians among 15 people injured.

The Air Force KF-16 jets were participating in joint US-South Korea live-fire training exercises in Pocheon, about 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of the heavily fortified border with nuclear-armed North Korea, military and government officials said.

The MK‑82 is equipped with nose and tail fuzes and a stabilizing fin assembly—sometimes using the low-drag Snakeye design for low-altitude delivery. Its explosive power creates a crater up to 10 m wide and roughly 4 m deep, sending out a powerful blast wave and lethal fragmentation across a large area.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Location :

Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories

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