Al-Azhar University destruction by IDF

Founded in 1991 during the First Intifada, 17,000 students and 12 faculties at its peak. Destruction: Bombed by aistrikes on 6 November, heavily damaging the campus. And blowed up on December 7.

The Israeli forces have systematically caused severe destruction to Gaza's education sector, with many universities either destroyed or repurposed as shelters for displaced families. This will have long-lasting effects on Gaza's 90,000 students and the region's educational future.

Below are the universities affected:

1. Islamic University of Gaza

Founded in 1978, over 17,000 students as of 2023 Destruction: Destroyed on 10 October; accused by Israel of producing weapons without any evidence. Previously hit in 2008-2009 and 2014.

Major Asaf Fred, who was later in Rafah & a commander in IDF’s 460 Brigade, admits to the destruction of IUG university in Gaza, a court & Rimal neighborhood without any military objectives. He also called for the destruction of Amalekite cities + “‘no good arabs” On December 19 he posts a long Genocidal justification. Excerpt : “Yes, this is how you destroy an enemy: Not only by killing its soldiers but also by destroying its symbols…..The destruction of the enemy's national symbols is a clear declaration that the games are over, and we want to win." On March 1, he shares a satellite imagery of Younis: “Amazing! This is how it should be done to all the Amalekite cities. (Khan Yunis, during the IDF maneuver)”

In November 5, 2024, some remaining buildings of this University were used as military base by Israeli troops. "My alma mater @IUGAZA med school is now a military point in the middle of Gaza. This IOF soldier is bragging about intentionally causing a delay in the start of the academic year because of occupying it and destroying its teaching hospital!" writes on X @OsaidesserMD Palestinian Academic global surgeon

2.Al-Azhar University

Founded in 1991 during the First Intifada, 17,000 students and 12 faculties at its peak. Destruction: Bombed by aistrikes on 6 November, heavily damaging the campus. And blowed up on December 7. "On Shabbat, we loaded the mines, and I signed off on the shipment with a modification due to the sanctity of Shabbat,” First Master Sergeant David Zoldan, the operational officer of Company A of Israel’s 749 Battalion wrote in a Facebook post on December 20. “A few days later, we assembled them and booby-trapped one of Gaza’s symbols of the future—Al-Azhar University in the northern part of the strip—and blew it up.” December 2023: Company A of the 749 Battalion was tasked with rigging up the south Gaza City campus of Al-Azhar University with explosives and detonating them, reducing Gaza’s second-largest university to rubble. On the footage, we can heard soldiers said "Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined” when they watch the powerful explosion.

The mining and detonation of the University was released on his Social netework by the IDF soldiers of the 749 Combat Engineering Corps invluding :

1. David Zolden, Operational Officer
2. Arthur Davidov
3. Rafael Ben Ishay
4. Maya Radoszkowicz
5. Arik Tedler
6. Amit Yagodeev
7. Saar Hirshoren
8. Natvie Korkus
9. Yossi Nahari
10. Roman Dyachenko
11. Daniel Bedoya
12. Yehuda Efraim
13. Nathan Emergui
14. Eli Biton
15. Amit Viner
16. Rony Ifrach
17. Omri Felous
18. Royi Wickes
19. Netanel Levine
20. Yahav Hoffmann
21. Yahav Abr
22. Dor Osher
23. Adib

In the following picture, Liad Ohayon, of Moroccan origin, serving in the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion celebrated the completion of their military service on the Al-Azhar University campus, which had been used as a military base and was subsequently detonated upon their withdrawal.

Al-Quds Open University

Founded IN 1991 by the PLO, it's the largest non-campus university with 60,000 students across the West Bank and Gaza. Occupation : Turned into military barracks Destruction : bombed on 15 November.

3. Al-Israa University

Founded in 2014 (Gaza's youngest university) Occupation : Its main building was occupied for 70 days by Israeli soldiers and Destruction : on 17 January 2024 by a massive Blowing up (355 explosives) During a press conference on Thursday, a U.S. State Department Spokesperson was asked if Israa University was a legitimate target. To this, spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “I don’t have independent information to verify that. But I can say that we continue to urge Israel to avoid damage to critical infrastructure – that would, of course, include universities – and to ensure the protection of humanitarian and medical sites.”

According to Itai Blumenthal (2024, 08:14 on March 11), it seems that the Brigadier General Hiram authorized the demolition of the Al Asraa University building in the south of Gaza City on the grounds that tunnels were dug under the building where terrorists were hiding. Since it is a sensitive building, Brigadier General Hiram was supposed to get permission in advance from the commander of the Southern Command. Two months later, the commander of the Southern Command recorded the "note" to the commander of Division 99 with the approval of Chief of Staff Halevi.

4. Palestine Technical College

Founded in 1993 in Deir el-Balah, 1,800 students Now a shelter for displaced Palestinians.

5. University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS)

Founded in 1998 in Gaza City. 8,500 students in 2023 Had a start-up incubator for entrepreneurs.Shelled on 22 January while sheltering displaced families. Israeli occupation forces turn the University College of Applied Sciences into a military base in Augustus 2024.

6. University of Palestine

Founded in 2005. was a Shelter for displaced families; targeted on 17 January when Israel detonated over 300 mines.

7. Al-Aqsa University

Began as a teacher training institute in 1955, evolved into a university by 2001. 26,000 students in 2022 Shelled on 22 January while housing displaced people. In May 2024, a picture of an IDF soldier (Tair Glisko. 424th Battalion, Givati Brigade) is released on the social media and is investigated by Younis Tirawi. Israel’s biggest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronot, reports this investigation and the response of Israel military: “This is a serious incident… an investigation was opened by the military police. The incident at the university is also being investigated at the senior levels”.

This autodafe was confirmed by Jake Godin in a OSINT investigation

8. Gaza University

Founded in 2006. 10 Faculties including law, education, and computer sciences. Destroyed by an airstrike in December.

9. Hassan II University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Established in 1992 in Beit Hanoun with Moroccan support Destroyed by Israeli forces in December.

10. Dar al-Kalima University: Gaza Training Centre

Founded in 2020, Providing arts training and therapy for trauma-affected children. Destroyed during Easter Holy Week in late March.

The destruction of these institutions highlights the severe disruption to Gaza's education system, impacting thousands of students and faculty and hampering educational and cultural development for future generations.

Eight people were injured in a drone bombing targeting the University College of Applied Sciences, which houses displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis Source

Letter from Palestinian Universities to students and faculty in Gaza Solidarity Encampments in US academic institutions

This letter was released the 1st May 2024.

"In a moment of great darkness, your protests erupt and give hope for humanity that justice is not an abstract concept but a continuous struggle that connects us all. Your values are emancipating the university from structural racism and complicity with power and colonialism. The situation in Palestine has reached increased genocidal levels, marked by the mass targeting of Palestinian life by killing and displacement; the destroying of social, cultural, and all educational institutions; and the aim to reduce Palestinians to bare life with no political and collective future. You are leaders in the call for justice with your bodies on your university campuses and in the streets, speaking truth and justice loud and clear. You stand for the courage that is needed to take action strongly for justice and freedom and determinedly against systems of genocide and racism. We know the risks you are taking in face of the repressive measures that are taken against university spaces built on challenging the powers benefitting from silence. At a time when the voices of the oppressed are intentionally silenced, your solidarity serves as a beacon of hope. Your actions are a resounding message that injustice and oppression will not be tolerated. We draw inspiration from the courage of those who refuse and resist the continuing injustices of settler colonialism and military occupation. We welcome you at our universities in a liberated Palestine. Together,

Presidents of Palestinian Universities Prof. Omar Melad - President of Al-Azhar University of Gaza Prof. Kamalin Shaath - President of Islamic University of Gaza Prof. Hasan Abu Jarad - President of Gaza University Prof. Ayman Soboh - President of Al-Aqsa University Prof. Mustafa Abusafa - President of Palestine Polytechnic University Prof. Samer Najde - President of Al-Quds Open University Prof. Abdel Khaleq Alfaraa - President of Al-Israa University Prof. Jaber Alda'or - President of University of Palestine Prof. Abdelnaser Zied - President of An-Najah National University Prof. Talal Shahwan - President of Birzeit University Prof. Raghad Dwiek - President of Hebron University Prof. Imad Abu Kishek - President of Al-Quds University Prof. Ali Abuzuhre - President of Arab American University Prof. lyad Twal - President of Bethlehem University Prof. Husein Shanak - President of Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie Prof. Nour Aldeen Abu Aroub - President of University of Al Istiklal Prof. Imad Alzeer - President of Palestine Ahliya University Prof. Dawod Zataree - President of Al-Zaytoonah University of Science and Technology Prof. Matre Alraheb - President of Dar Al Kalema University Prof. Derar Alayan - President of Nablus University for Vocational & Technical Education"

Sources : 1 2 3 4