# Israeli Strike Kills Three at Gaza University

> An Israeli air strike on the Islamic University in Gaza City on October 25, 2026, killed three administrative staff members and injured eight students, despite a ceasefire.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-26T15:48:59.574329Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/israeli-strike-kills-three-at-gaza-university-cb0d3a96

On October 25, 2026, an Israeli air strike on the Islamic University in Gaza City killed three people and injured eight others [2][3][4][5][10][11]. Palestinian media identified the deceased as Ashraf Dahlan, Shadi Abu Ataya, and Sami Baroud [2]. Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City confirmed receiving the three bodies and treating the eight wounded [2][5][8][10][11]. University sources stated the deceased were administrative staff and the injured were students [2][5][8][10][11].

This incident occurred more than a year after a ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza in October 2025 [1][7][14][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The ongoing violence contributes to a death toll of 1,551 Palestinians and 5,573 injured since that ceasefire, and a total of 74,544 Palestinians killed and 175,692 injured since October 7, 2023 [14][15][16]. Gaza’s education ministry previously reported that 95% of academic institution buildings in Gaza have been damaged, and 10 students and educators were killed in the six days leading up to this strike [6][11]. Approximately 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has suffered widespread destruction since October 2023 [15][16].

## What the records show
Before the fatal air strike, an earlier drone strike on the university campus that morning injured five students, leading the university to suspend all academic and administrative activities [3][7]. Hamas condemned the subsequent air strike as a “war crime and an extension of the ongoing genocide” [1]. Gaza civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal reported four additional deaths on the same day in Khan Yunis, Deir al-Balah, and northern Gaza [6][12][13].

## What the subject has said publicly
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a “terrorist from Hamas’ military wing” [11]. The military also said it diverted munitions after identifying “uninvolved individuals” in the area to mitigate harm [11]. Hamas, in its condemnation, also accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, expanding its control over land, and blocking essential food supplies [1]. Gaza’s education ministry condemned the strike, stating that “the global silence regarding attacks on students and universities serves as encouragement for the continuation of these crimes” [11].

## What we could not confirm
The Israeli military did not clarify if the casualties at the university were accidental [11]. The identity of the “terrorist from Hamas’ military wing” reportedly targeted by the Israeli military has not been released [11]. It is also unconfirmed if the “uninvolved individuals” referenced by the Israeli military were among those killed or injured at the university [11].

## Evidence cited
1. Number of martyrs in Israeli genocide in Gaza rises to 74,544 (www.saba.ye) — https://www.saba.ye/
2. IDF strike on Gaza university reportedly kills three (The Times of Israel) — https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-strike-on-gaza-university-reportedly-kills-three/
3. Six Palestinians Killed across Gaza as Israel Attacks Islamic University (palestinechronicle.com) — https://www.palestinechronicle.com/six-palestinians-killed-across-gaza-as-israel-attacks-islamic-university/
4. New attack on the Islamic University of Gaza leaves three dead | Demócrata (democrata.es) — https://democrata.es/english/new-attack-on-the-islamic-university-of-gaza-leaves-three-dead-democrata/
5. Israeli strike on Gaza university kills three (Oman Observer) — https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1155981/world/mena/israeli-strike-on-gaza-university-kills-three
6. Israeli strike on Gaza university kills three (newagebd.net) — https://newagebd.net/article/213504/israeli-strike-on-gaza-university-kills-three
7. 6 Palestinians killed, 10 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza (aa.com.tr) — https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/6-palestinians-killed-10-injured-in-israeli-attacks-across-gaza/3382711
8. Strike on Gaza university kills three: staff, hospital (arabnews.com) — https://www.arabnews.com/node/2598371/middle-east
9. IDF strikes Hamas's Islamic University in Gaza City (www.idf.il) — https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/israel-hamas-war/idf-strikes-hamas-s-islamic-university-in-gaza-city/
10. Israeli strike on Gaza university kills three (sharjah24.ae) — https://www.sharjah24.ae/en/articles/2026/10/25/Israeli-strike-on-Gaza-university-kills-three
11. Israeli strike on Gaza university kills three - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East (al-monitor.com) — https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/israeli-strike-gaza-university-kills-three
12. Israeli Strike on University in Gaza Kills 3, Education Ministry Calls Out 'Attacks on Students' (ground.news) — https://ground.news/article/israeli-strike-on-gaza-university-kills-3-education-ministry-calls-out-attacks-on-students_781191
13. Israeli Strike on University in Gaza City Kills 3; Another 4 Palestinians Killed in Separate Airstrikes (ground.news) — https://ground.news/article/israeli-strike-on-university-in-gaza-city-kills-3-another-4-palestinians-killed-in-separate-airstrikes_781190
14. Gaza Health Ministry Releases Daily Update on Casualties from October 25, 2026 - IMEMC (imemc.org) — https://imemc.org/article/gaza-health-ministry-releases-daily-update-on-casualties-from-october-25-2026/
15. Satellite images reveal widespread destruction in Gaza, with 82% of structures damaged (yenisafak.com) — https://yenisafak.com/en/news/satellite-images-reveal-widespread-destruction-in-gaza-with-82-of-structures-damaged-3687353
16. Four Palestinians killed in Gaza Israeli attacks (muslimnews.co.uk) — https://muslimnews.co.uk/news/middle-east/four-palestinians-killed-gaza-israeli-attacks/
17. Gaza death toll passes 1,500 since October 2025 'ceasefire' - Mehr News Agency (Mehr News Agency) — https://mehrnews.com/news/211244/Gaza-death-toll-passes-1-500-since-October-2025-ceasefire
18. Gaza health ministry says 1,501 Palestinians killed since October 2025 'ceasefire' | Middle East Eye (Middle East Eye) — https://middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-health-ministry-says-1501-palestinians-killed-october-2025-ceasefire
19. Petra (petra.gov.jo) — https://petra.gov.jo/Include/PNews.jsp?id=69992
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21. Gaza: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 233 | 16 February 2026 (un.org) — https://www.un.org/unispal/document/gaza-humanitarian-situation-report-no-233-16-february-2026/
22. Israel-Hamas War | Summary, Background, & Latest News (britannica.com) — https://www.britannica.com/event/Israel-Hamas-War
23. Trump's Peace Plan for Gaza | Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org) — https://www.cfr.org/middle-east-and-north-africa/gaza-israel-hamas-war-peace-plan-donald-trump
24. Israel, Hamas agree to US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan - CNN (CNN) — https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/09/middleeast/israel-hamas-ceasefire-deal-trump-intl-cmd/index.html
25. What Comes Next for Israel-Hamas Ceasefire? (csis.org) — https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-comes-next-israel-hamas-ceasefire
26. Gaza ceasefire explained – Islamic Relief Worldwide (Islamic Relief Worldwide) — https://islamic-relief.org/whats-happening/mena/gaza-ceasefire-explained/
27. Historic Gaza Peace Agreement Signed in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2025 - YouTube (YouTube) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2130iE2gU4
28. UN Human Rights Office Documents Deaths of 1,076 Palestinians in Gaza Since Ceasefire (qna.org.qa) — https://qna.org.qa/en/archive/192275-un-human-rights-office-documents-deaths-of-1076-palestinians-in-gaza-since-ceasefire
29. More Than 80% Of Gaza's Infrastructure Damaged, Three Years Into War (wutc.org) — https://wutc.org/national-news/2026-10-07/more-than-80-of-gazas-infrastructure-damaged-three-years-into-war
30. Gaza: New satellite images reveal the scale of the destruction • FRANCE 24 English (YouTube) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJgB-X8-1O8
31. Israeli Airstrikes Hit Islamic University in Gaza City, Killing Three and Injuring Students (newscord.org) — https://newscord.org/