Jakarta –
The military Israel claimed to have discovered the tunnel Hamas under the headquarters of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City. UNRWA denied this claim.
Reported by AFP, Sunday (11/2/2024), UNRWA emphasized that it had not operated at that location since 12 October 2023 or five days after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel. They also called for an independent investigation into Israel’s claims.
UNRWA was already under intense scrutiny after sacking a number of its staff last month following Israeli accusations that they took part in a deadly Hamas attack on October 7.
Meanwhile, the Army and the Shin Bet security agency said operations in Gaza City in recent weeks had led to the discovery of a tunnel hole near a school operated by UNRWA.
“The shaft leads to an underground terror tunnel that serves as an important Hamas military intelligence asset and passes under the building that serves as UNRWA’s main headquarters in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
“The electrical infrastructure in the tunnel, 700 meters (765 yards) long and 18 meters underground, is connected to the agency’s headquarters,” they said.
“Indicates that UNRWA facilities supply the tunnel with electricity,” the statement continued.
“Documents and weapons caches in the UN complex itself also confirm that the office was actually used by Hamas terrorists,” the Israeli military said.
Meanwhile, UNRWA denied this. UNRWA confirmed that its staff had left the location following instructions from Israeli troops as bombardment increased in the area.
“We have not used the compound since we left it nor are we aware of any activity that may have occurred there,” UNRWA said.
(country/country)
2024-02-10 18:46:13
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