The Israeli military on Sunday unveiled a network of tunnels beneath Gaza City, saying it also extends under the United Nations headquarters in the area.
The Israeli Defense Forces escorted foreign journalists through a tunnel and then entered through a shaft that penetrated the ground next to the school. Israel claims the tunnels are further evidence that the UN mission in Gaza has been compromised by Hamas terrorists.
“Everything is done from here. All the energy when you go through the tunnel comes from here,” an Israeli officer told reporters during the tour. “This is one of the central command centers of the intelligence service. This is one of the Hamas intelligence units, which led most of the fighting.”
UNRWA denies knowledge of the tunnel and says it vacated its ground headquarters on October 12.
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The Israeli military on Sunday unveiled a network of tunnels that extend beneath the United Nations headquarters in Gaza City.
“UNRWA lacks military and security expertise and does not have the capacity to conduct military inspections of what is or may be on its premises,” the group said in a statement.
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“In the past, whenever a suspicious cavity was discovered near or on UNRWA premises, a letter of protest was immediately submitted to the parties to the conflict, including both the de facto authorities in Gaza and the Israeli authorities. ” the statement continued.
The Israeli Defense Forces escorted foreign journalists through a tunnel and then entered through a shaft that penetrated the ground next to the school.
Meanwhile, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri claimed that Israeli claims about UNRWA’s ties to the tunnels were “lies”.
News of the tunnels comes amid Israeli claims that hundreds of UNRWA personnel expressed support for or took part in the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel.
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In response to the allegations, several Western countries have suspended funding to UNRWA, which supports Gazans abroad.
News of the tunnels comes amid Israeli claims that hundreds of UNRWA personnel expressed support for or took part in the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant this weekend called UNRWA “Hamas with a makeover.” He argued on Saturday that it was time for the world to “dismantle UNRWA” and create an alternative mechanism to provide aid to civilians in the war-hit Gaza Strip.
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“I think the world needs to wake up and approach this problem in a different way, while also addressing the needs of Gaza,” Gallant told FOX News Digital. “UNRWA is a terrorist group paid by many countries, and these countries give money to the people it rapes, kills, and imprisons.”
Fox News’ Ruth Marks Eglash and Reuters contributed to this report
