Thu Apr 10 08:36:54 UTC 2025: ## Gaza University: From Classroom to Refugee Camp
**Gaza City, Palestine** – The Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), once a bustling center of learning with nearly 17,000 students, has been transformed into a makeshift shelter for hundreds of displaced families. The 18-month conflict, which saw over 50,000 killed in the enclave, and the recent resumption of hostilities on March 18th, have left the university in ruins and its students scattered.
The once-vibrant campus is now a scene of devastation. The main auditorium, a testament to the scale of the destruction, is a charred husk, its walls riddled with gaping holes. Lecture halls and classrooms are now home to families who have erected tents amongst the rubble. Desperate measures for survival are commonplace, with families resorting to burning library books for fuel due to the ongoing blockade of essential supplies.
With Israel’s blockade preventing the entry of food, fuel, and medicine for over a month, the humanitarian crisis within the university’s walls reflects the dire situation across Gaza. The limited aid reaching the enclave is severely strained, leaving these displaced families struggling for survival in the shadow of what was once a symbol of education and hope. A makeshift market operating under the university’s main gate further highlights the desperate conditions facing those seeking refuge within its grounds. The IUG, once a center for learning, now stands as a stark symbol of the ongoing conflict’s devastating impact on Gaza’s civilian population.
First Piper 