The Israeli army and the Shin Bet, the internal security service, claimed on Saturday February 10 to have discovered a Hamas tunnel under the headquarters of UNRWA, the UN office for Palestinian refugees located in Gaza.
Military operations in the city in recent weeks led to the discovery of a
“tunnel entrance”
near a school run by the UN humanitarian agency, the two institutions said in a statement.
"The entrance led to an underground terrorist tunnel that was an important Hamas military intelligence asset and passed under the building that serves as UNRWA's main headquarters in the Gaza Strip
," they added.
The “electrical infrastructure”
of the tunnel – 700 meters long and located 18 meters underground –
“was connected”
to the agency's headquarters,
“indicating that UNRWA facilities supplied the tunnel with electricity
,” they said. .
Read alsoIn Israel's sights, UNRWA plays for its survival
Photographers from Reuters and AFP were among a group of journalists who were led by the Israeli army into the building and tunnel on Thursday.
Documents and a stockpile of weapons in the UN compound
“confirmed that the offices had also been used by Hamas terrorists
,” add the army and the Shin Bet.
UNRWA defends itself
Hamas has dug numerous tunnels in the Gaza Strip over the past ten years, where its fighters hide, according to Israel.
In October, a study by the Modern War Institute of the American Academy West Point identified 1,300 tunnels there, for more than 500 km of underground corridors.
The UN agency stressed that it had not occupied its headquarters since October 12 - five days after the Hamas attack - and requested the opening of an independent investigation.
Read alsoIsrael-Hamas War: discover the mapping of the tunnels in the Gaza Strip
On
“We have not used this building since we left it and we are not aware of any activity that may have taken place there
,” he added.
Israel's accusations
“deserve an independent investigation”
, underlined the head of the UN agency.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Minister on Saturday deemed
the immediate resignation of the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees
“imperative” .
“The prompt resignation”
of Philippe Lazzarini
“is imperative
,” said Minister Israel Katz on X.
Suspension of funding
Israel recently accused UNRWA of having had 12 employees, out of its 13,000 in the Gaza Strip, involved in the Hamas attack.
The Jewish state also assured last week that it would prove
“UNRWA’s links with terrorism”
.
An internal UN investigation is underway into the employees blamed by Israel, from which UNRWA has separated, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed an independent commission to assess the
"neutrality"
of the agency.
In response to Israel's accusations, a dozen countries, including major donors such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden, announced they would suspend their funding to UNRWA.