The Islamic University of Gaza is an independent academic institution within the higher education system in Palestine. It was established in 1978 and is a member of the Association of Arab Universities, the League of Islamic Universities, the Mediterranean Universities Union, and the International Association of Universities. The university has a partnership with numerous Arab and international universities. The university's mission is to provide an academic environment for its students that adheres to Islamic values and considers the circumstances and traditions of the Palestinian people. The university strives to allocate all available resources to serve the educational process, placing equal emphasis on practical applications as on theoretical knowledge. Furthermore, it prioritizes the employment of available technological means to support the educational process.

The university is located in the southern Al-Rimal area of Gaza City, approximately one kilometer from the seashore. According to statistics published on the university's website, the total number of students enrolled at the Islamic University of Gaza is 20,000, spread across various programs and academic degrees.

On October 11, 2023, Israeli occupation aircraft bombed the Islamic University in Gaza City, destroying several of its buildings. Prior of that, The Islamic University released a statement on its official Facebook page, indicating that large portions of the university's buildings sustained significant damage as a result of the Israeli bombardment that targeted the ministries, government headquarters, and institutions located near the university. The statement further confirmed that the Faculty of Information Technology, the Deanship of Community Service, Continuing Education, and the Faculty of Science buildings sustained extensive damage, including their equipment, laboratories, and furnishings. Additionally, most of the glass windows and facades of the university buildings were shattered.