Gaza strikes leave seven dead including three at Islamic University

At least seven Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, including three people who died when an Israeli drone struck a university campus in Gaza City, according to local medical staff and emergency workers.

The drone hit the Islamic University in Gaza City while students were on site attending classes, local authorities reported. Al Shifa Hospital confirmed it had received the bodies of three victims and treated eight individuals who sustained injuries in the blast. University personnel stated that those who lost their lives were administrative employees, whereas the wounded were enrolled students.

When approached for comment regarding the incident, the Israeli military stated that it was looking into the accounts.

The education ministry in Gaza strongly denounced the assault, calling it part of an ongoing pattern of violence directed at educational institutions. The ministry noted that roughly 95 percent of higher education facilities across the enclave have suffered structural damage throughout the ongoing conflict. It added that 10 teachers and students had been killed by Israeli fire over a six-day span leading up to Sunday's strike.

Additional casualties were confirmed in separate strikes throughout the territory on the same day. According to Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gaza's civil defence agency, four other people were killed in distinct bombardments. Two victims died in an airstrike targeting the southern city of Khan Yunis, while two others were killed in strikes in central Deir al Balah and the northern portion of the Strip. The fatalities follow earlier attacks, including Israeli shelling and gunfire that left at least four people dead on Thursday.

The continued violence comes despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in place for more than a year. The truce has repeatedly failed to bring a comprehensive end to military actions across the enclave. Local health officials report that more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes since the implementation of the truce, while Israel has reported the loss of four soldiers during that same timeframe. Overall, Palestinian authorities state that over 74,000 people have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.