JERUSALEM

The Israeli army on Wednesday said it struck the Islamic University of Gaza, claiming it is an "important Hamas operational, political and military center."

"Hamas transformed a university into a training camp for weapons development and military intelligence," it said.

The Islamic University of Gaza was established in 1978, and offers higher education in different faculties including arts, engineering, law and medical sciences.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas on Saturday initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

The Palestinian group said the offensive was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.