Several dead in Israeli attack on Gaza university

Three university security personnel were killed and eight students injured in an Israeli drone strike on Islamic University in Gaza City on Sunday, according to local Palestinian sources. Four additional people died in separate attacks elsewhere in the enclave on the same day. The incident occurred despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025, with both Israel and Hamas accusing one another of violations. The attack targeted the campus of Islamic University, located in the northern part of the territory. Sources within the institution told French news agency AFP that the drone strike specifically aimed at the facility. Three members of the university’s security staff lost their lives in the blast. Eight students who were present on the campus for classes sustained injuries. Several of the wounded students are in critical condition, according to the Gaza Ministry of Education. Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City confirmed receiving three bodies and treating eight injured individuals following the drone attack. The hospital stated that it had taken charge of the casualties resulting from the strike. In separate incidents across the Palestinian enclave, four more people were killed, according to a spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defense service. Two individuals died in an aerial attack in Khan Younis in the south. One person was killed in the central area of Deir al-Balah, and another died in Israeli fire in the north of the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Ministry of Education condemned the international silence regarding attacks on students and universities. The ministry stated that this lack of reaction serves as encouragement to continue such acts. It highlighted that the higher education sector in Gaza is on the verge of total destruction. According to the ministry, ten students and teachers have been killed in attacks over the past six days. Furthermore, ninety-five percent of buildings belonging to university institutions have been damaged during the war between Israel and Hamas. The conflict has persisted for two years since the largest-ever attack by the Palestinian movement on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023. A ceasefire entered into force on October 10, 2025. However, Israel and Hamas mutually accuse each other of breaching the truce. Despite the agreement, the Islamic militant group and the Israeli army continue to exchange attacks within the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is under Hamas control, more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the ceasefire. United Nations officials consider the data provided by this ministry to be reliable. The Israeli military responded to a request for comment by stating that it was verifying the information regarding the strikes. The army did not provide further details or confirm specific targets at the time of reporting. The drone attack on the university added to a series of violent incidents in recent days. Civil defense officials noted the distribution of fatalities across different geographic zones of the enclave, including the southern city of Khan Younis and the central district of Deir al-Balah. The fourth death in these separate incidents occurred in the northern part of the strip due to Israeli fire. The cumulative toll includes seven deaths reported across all locations on Sunday. Sources close to the Islamic University described the victims as administrative staff and security personnel. The injured parties were identified as students attending lectures at the time of the explosion. The physical infrastructure of the educational institutions has suffered extensive damage throughout the duration of the hostilities. The ministry emphasized that the current level of destruction threatens the viability of the academic system in the region. International observers have noted the ongoing tension despite the formal cessation of large-scale operations agreed upon last year. The mutual accusations of violation suggest that the fragile peace holds little practical weight on the ground. Casualty figures from the health ministry indicate a continued high rate of loss of life among the civilian population. The verification process by the Israeli military remains pending, with no immediate clarification offered regarding the nature of the target or the rules of engagement used during the drone operation. The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with sporadic violence continuing to claim lives. The focus on educational facilities marks a distinct aspect of the recent escalation. Students finding themselves in danger while pursuing their studies reflect the broader impact of the conflict on daily life. The damage to ninety-five percent of university buildings underscores the long-term structural harm inflicted on the region's intellectual infrastructure. As investigations proceed, the discrepancy between official statements and field reports continues to characterize the information environment surrounding the conflict.