Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza’s Islamic University: 3 Dead, 8 Wounded in Sunday Attack

GAZA CITY — Fresh violence erupted in Gaza City on Sunday as an Israeli strike hit the campus of the Islamic University, leaving at least three people dead and eight others injured.

Medical personnel at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed receiving three fatalities and treating eight individuals suffering from shrapnel wounds and trauma following the strike. University officials identified those killed as administrative and security staff members, while several students attending classes were among the wounded.

The attack struck administrative facilities within the university compound during daytime operational hours. Local sources reported that the campus had been targeted in dual strikes hours apart, causing severe structural damage and triggering widespread panic among nearby residents and students. "The global silence regarding attacks on students and universities serves as encouragement for the continuation of these crimes."— Statement by the Palestinian Education Ministry

In response to inquiries regarding the bombardment, the Israeli military stated that the operation targeted specific operational assets, with further details expected following initial post-strike evaluations.

The assault comes amidst escalating criticism from international humanitarian groups over the destruction of higher education infrastructure across the Gaza Strip. Following the attack, university leadership announced an immediate suspension of in-person academic activities for the remainder of the week.

In the hours following the strike, rescue teams and university workers sifted through twisted rebar and shattered concrete, attempting to secure valuable educational records and salvage undamaged equipment from ruined lecture halls. Students who gathered near the perimeter expressed profound uncertainty about their futures, noting that the destruction of academic infrastructure threatens to erase years of progress for thousands seeking higher education.

International relief agencies reiterated warnings about the compounding crisis facing Gaza's educational sector, emphasizing that repeated damage to schools and universities severely restricts access to safe learning environments. Human rights organizations called for independent investigations into strikes on civilian infrastructure, urging all parties involved to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law.