UNRWA condemns Hamas tunnels under Gaza schools
Israel calls on UN to classify group as terrorists
Israel on Friday called on the UN to “strongly and unequivocally condemn Hamas” and formally classify the group a “terrorist organization” following the discovery of a tunnel that runs beneath two UN Relief and Works Agency schools in the Gaza Strip.
In a letter to the president of the Security Council, Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon demanded that “this time, the international community must not turn a blind eye toward such cynical exploitation” of civilian infrastructure in Gaza by Hamas.
Danon’s letter came soon after UNRWA announced on Friday that on June 1 it had discovered a tunnel that runs under two adjacent schools during construction work on one of the school buildings. A statement by UNRWA spokesperson Christopher Gunness said that the organization “condemns the existence of such tunnels in the strongest possible terms” and that UNRWA has “robustly intervened and protested to Hamas in Gaza.”
UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov posted the following message on Twitter on Saturday: “Despicable to risk the lives of children! Hamas must end illicit arms buildup and militant activity in Gaza.”
UNRWA’s announcement of the discovery of the tunnels came a day after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley visited an UNRWA school in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.
Danon, in his letter – which was also sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres – wrote that “this latest finding verifies once again that Hamas’s cruelty knows no limits, including endangering centers of learning and education, and using children as human shields. This latest abuse is not only a flagrant misuse of UN premises and civilian infrastructure, but more important, is a direct threat to the safety and security of children.”
Danon wrote that “despite the repeated efforts of my delegation, our reports of
Hamas’s military buildup and use of children in military campaigns have fallen on deaf ears,” and criticized the UN’s failure to adequately deal with repeated reports of Hamas’s exploitation of UN facilities in Gaza.
“It is of the utmost importance that the council ensures that all UN-affiliated agencies, and especially UNRWA, remain neutral and safeguarded from abuse by terrorist organizations,” read the letter.
Danon wrote that the discovery of this tunnel was not an “isolated incident, but rather the latest of deeply concerning attempts by Hamas terrorists to systematically exploit the organs of the UN.” These efforts, he said, are “severely damaging” humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
According to a report that appeared in al-Monitor, Hamas denied it built the tunnel under the UN schools, and “strongly condemned” the UNRWA statement.
Hamas, according to the report, “clarified the issue with all factions and resistance forces, who clearly stated they had no actions related to the resistance in the said location.”
UNRWA has been the subject of considerable pressure in recent months. In February, allegations emerged that an UNRWA employee had been elected to the Hamas political leadership. The individual in question was suspended by the organization and subsequently resigned.
And earlier this month, the UNRWA apologized after it was revealed that it had used a photo of a Palestinian child living in Syria for its fund-raising campaign in Gaza. The photo was later removed. •