The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, announced that it had recently identified a "man-made tunnel" under the agency's school grounds in Gaza. "The agency immediately cordoned off the area and did what was necessary to secure the school, including permanently sealing off that space," it said.
The terrorist tunnels of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad were a central target in the 2021 "Guardians of the Walls" operation that the Israel Defense Forces conducted in the Gaza Strip, and their destruction using The Israeli Airforce was crucial in stopping the advancement of all forms of militant terrorism sneaking into Israel. From time to time between the different flare-ups with Hamas, the IDF attacks such tunnels mostly in response to rocket launches targeting Israeli towns surrounding Gaza.
Did you see @giladerdan1, that while the @UN held "Palestinian solidarity day", the terrorists in Gaza were digging attack tunnels under @unrwa schools, to intentionally using the Palestinian kids & the UN as human shields?https://t.co/pBc5MJAjXV
— Maurice Hirsch, Adv. 🇮🇱 עו''ד מוריס הירש (@MauriceHirsch4) December 1, 2022
UNRWA further said in their statement "the agency strongly protested to the relevant authorities in Gaza and expressed their 'outrage and condemnation' at the presence of such a structure under one of its facilities." UNRWA noted that the presence of such a tunnel under the territory of a UNRWA school constitutes a serious violation of the agency's neutrality and international law. "Furthermore, it exposes the children and agency staff to significant security and safety risks."
Hamas and the Islamic Jihad are often called out by Israel for positioning military equipment under schools and hospitals. Being an agency running a large number of programs in Gaza, UNRWA should be well aware of the military presence there. Nevertheless, UNRWA condemning terrorist organizations within the strip is a rare occurrence.
Hamas terror tunnels under #Gaza @UNRWA children’s school. pic.twitter.com/TEfhnlrSu8
— Corrected Media (@correctedmedia) November 27, 2022
"UNRWA reiterates its demand that all parties respect the neutrality and immunity of UN facilities at all times," it added. "Such flagrant violations of the agency's privileges and immunities are serious and endanger its ability to provide support and protection to the 1.4 million Palestinian refugees who need it in Gaza."
This is not the first time tunnels have been spotted under UNRWA property. In fact, since 2015 there have been several instances where UNRWA was made aware of the issue but did nothing about it. In 2017, Israel protested to the United Nations Security Council about the tunnels found under an Elementary school, do this date nothing has been done or said in the United Nations about them.
Following discovery of two Hamas #terror tunnels built under @UNRWA elementary schools in #Gaza, Israel submits letter of protest to #UNSC. pic.twitter.com/s3gF1iymdL
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2017
During the “Guardian of the Walls" operation, The Israeli Air Force targeted a massive underground tunnel network used mostly by Hamas. At the time, IDF spokesman Hedi Zilberman said: “This tunnel is not only intended for use against IDF ground maneuvers because it also has rocket launchers, naval weapons, and the ability to evacuate to the to sea.”
Despite UNRWA’s selective blindness to Hamas and The Jihadi’s infrastructure, the Israeli government tends to be respectful of UNRWA, allowing all necessary aid into Gaza.
