An Israeli drone strike on the Islamic University in Gaza City killed three employees and injured eight students on Sunday. Medical staff at Al Shifa Hospital confirmed receiving three bodies and providing emergency treatment to the wounded students following the strike. Furthermore, university officials reported that the campus and surrounding areas came under attack twice during the day. Reached for official comment, the Israeli military acknowledged the incident and stated that the operation remains under review. Consequently, university administrators suspended all academic and administrative activities on campus until further notice.
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The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education issued a strong statement condemning the targeted bombardment of academic infrastructure. Ministry officials warned that persistent attacks threaten the complete collapse of Gaza’s higher education sector. Reports indicate that approximately ninety-five percent of higher education facilities across the territory have suffered severe structural damage throughout the ongoing conflict. Furthermore, education officials emphasized that ten students and educators were killed in strikes over the preceding six days alone. Therefore, educational authorities called on international bodies to intervene and protect academic institutions.
In response to inquiries, Israeli military representatives claimed that munitions were diverted after identifying uninvolved individuals in the immediate target zone. However, army officials did not confirm whether the casualties at the university resulted from accidental impacts. Meanwhile, civil defense agencies across Gaza reported additional casualties resulting from separate military strikes elsewhere in the enclave. Civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal confirmed five additional fatalities across Khan Yunis, Deir al Balah, and areas northwest of Gaza City. Furthermore, one civilian sustained injuries from gunfire near the Jabalia refugee camp.
Despite an active truce framework across the territory, localized military strikes and violent incidents continue creating immense instability. Local residents express growing concern over frequent airspace bombardments and persistent ground security risks. Furthermore, humanitarian organizations highlight that ongoing destruction severely hampers relief operations and public service restoration across urban centers. Emergency response teams face continuous logistical hurdles while evacuating casualties from targeted zones due to damaged roads. Consequently, local communities remain under severe distress while navigating ongoing safety hazards daily.
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International human rights observers maintain that targeting educational complexes violates established international humanitarian norms protecting civilian infrastructure. Global advocacy groups continue calling for strict adherence to international laws to prevent civilian casualties and preserve remaining essential facilities. Meanwhile, local medical teams at Al Shifa Hospital continue working under intense resource constraints to treat injured students. Representatives from civil society organizations urge immediate international safeguards for schools and universities across the region. Ultimately, the attack underscores the fragile security environment still affecting civilian populations in Gaza.