Gaza: In the aftermath of Israel's relentless bombardment of Gaza, the Islamic University of Gaza, one of the largest institutions in the region, has transformed into a makeshift shelter for displaced families. Prior to the war, the university housed around 17,000 students, with over 60% of them being women, studying various subjects like medicine, chemistry, literature, and commerce.
However, after 18 months of devastating Israeli airstrikes that have claimed more than 50,000 lives in Gaza, much of the campus is in ruins, including the main auditorium, which has been left gutted and burnt.
Since the resumption of hostilities following the breakdown of a ceasefire on March 18, 2025, the university's campus has become a refuge for hundreds of families seeking shelter from the ongoing conflict.
Lecture halls and classrooms have been repurposed for tents, with displaced Palestinians living in the rubble. Due to a severe shortage of fuel, families have resorted to burning books from the university's library to cook meals, and children can be seen playing in the remains of what once were gardens, now reduced to debris.
A temporary market has sprung up under the university's main gate, as families struggle to find ways to survive amid the ongoing siege.
The Israeli blockade, which has cut off the entry of food, fuel, and medical supplies for over a month, has made survival even harder for the people of Gaza. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to provide assistance, with dwindling resources and constant airstrikes hampering their efforts.
Amid these dire circumstances, people like Manal Zaanin, a mother of six, are doing their best to help their families. She has repurposed a filing cabinet into a makeshift oven to bake pita bread, which she sells to other displaced families in an effort to make ends meet.
However, the situation remains dire, and the ongoing destruction has made it nearly impossible for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
