An Israeli strike on the Islamic University in Gaza City on Sunday resulted in the deaths of three individuals, according to university staff and a local hospital. The civil defence agency also reported five other fatalities elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.
Al Shifa hospital confirmed receiving three bodies and treating eight wounded individuals following the incident. Sources at the university identified the deceased as employees and the injured as students. The university stated that its campus and surrounding areas were targeted twice on Sunday, issuing a statement condemning the attacks and mourning the victims.
Gaza's Ministry of Education also denounced the strike, calling the international community's silence on attacks against students and universities "encouragement for the continuation of these crimes." The ministry added that the higher education sector in Gaza is facing "total annihilation," with 95 percent of academic institution buildings damaged due to the ongoing conflict. It further noted that in the preceding six days, ten students and educators had been killed by Israeli fire.
The Israeli army, in a statement, indicated that it had been targeting a Hamas military operative. "Following the identification of uninvolved individuals in the area, the munition was diverted in order to mitigate harm to them. The incident is under review," the army stated, without confirming whether the university casualties were accidental.
Separately, Gaza's civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal reported that five other individuals were killed on Sunday: three in strikes near Khan Yunis, one in Deir al Balah, and one northwest of Gaza City. An additional person was injured by Israeli gunfire in the Jabalia refugee camp.
