[1] Its main building was occupied for 70 days and physically destroyed by explosives on 17 January 2024 by Israeli armed forces, during the Israel–Hamas war.

According to university administrators, the building was used by the Israeli forces as a base for snipers for shooting civilians in Rashid, al-Mughraqa and al-Zahra streets and as a detention centre.

[2][1] On 17 January 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) destroyed the main university building through a controlled demolition after having used the premises as a military base for several weeks.

[1][6] In March 2024, the IDF stated that the facilities and its surroundings had been used by Hamas fighters as staging grounds for attacks, rendering the university a legitimate military target.

[7] The IDF said there had been “flaws in the operational process, including in the decision to destroy the entire building.”[8] As of January 2024[update], the vice-President of the university was Ahmed Alhussaina.