Israeli Military Operations in Gaza Uncover Weapons and Assets in UNRWA Headquarters

Israeli Defense Forces' Raids on Hamas Facilities in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out recent raids on Hamas facilities in Gaza, resulting in the elimination of 120 terrorists and the discovery of a substantial cache of weapons and assets, even inside a United Nations-affiliated building. In a joint statement with the Israel Security Agency (ISA), the IDF revealed that the raids were conducted in northern Gaza over the past two weeks, with around 120 Hamas terrorists killed and 20 terrorist infrastructure sites destroyed in the operation.

Discoveries and Consequences

The IDF stated that the ISA initially led them to a tunnel shaft near a school run by UNRWA, which led to an underground terror tunnel serving as a significant asset of Hamas' military intelligence and passing under the main UNRWA headquarters in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military seized a wide variety of intelligence assets while raiding the 700-meter-long tunnel, which will enable them to operate against additional Hamas targets, ultimately weakening the group's intelligence capabilities. This discovery led the military to the UNRWA's headquarters, where they found that the building supplied the Hamas tunnel with electricity. Large quantities of weapons were discovered inside the building, including rifles, ammunition, grenades, and explosives, along with intelligence and documents confirming that the offices were also used by Hamas terrorists.

Response and Accusations

UNRWA's Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed that the organization was unaware of the activities under its headquarters in Gaza and stated that they had not used the compound since the evacuation orders and subsequent bombardment. Additionally, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant accused "dozens" of UNRWA employees of participating in the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks that triggered the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasizing the need for a different approach to addressing the situation and Gaza's needs.

Concerns and Implications

The IDF's findings raise significant concerns about the misuse of UN facilities and the involvement of its staff in activities detrimental to regional stability and security.