Gaza’s Islamic University is continuing education through alternative methods after prolonged Israeli military attacks and blockade caused extensive damage to its campus, laboratories and library. Since attacks began in October 2023, the university’s main campus has become unusable, prompting it to establish five temporary teaching centers across Gaza. Teachers and students are seeking to sustain training for future doctors, engineers and scientists despite the destruction.

University officials said 19 educational buildings were destroyed, while about 500 classrooms, 200 scientific laboratories and 75 computer labs were severely damaged. The central library lost more than 240,000 books, research papers, references and academic theses. Health Sciences Dean Abdul Rauf Ali al-Manama said the period had been among the university’s most severe, with buildings also used as shelters for displaced people.

The university now relies on online instruction, virtual simulations, recorded laboratory-experiment videos and training at hospitals and health centers. Medical student Dima Muhaysen described volunteering in emergency, wound-care and surgery departments. Officials said full restoration requires laboratories, medical equipment, microscopes, analytical instruments, sterilization systems, chemicals and specialized computers, but imports remain a major challenge under the blockade.