Israeli forces have revealed a labyrinthine tunnel network stretching hundreds of meters under the Gaza headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
The discovery, showcased to foreign media by army engineers, adds fuel to Israel’s accusations of Hamas leveraging civilian infrastructure for military purposes. UNRWA, meanwhile, faces mounting scrutiny amid frozen funding and internal investigations.
UNRWA, pivotal in providing aid to Gaza’s populace, stands accused by Israel of unwittingly abetting Hamas. Amidst the escalating conflict, journalists were led through the subterranean passages adjacent to the UN compound, shedding light on the clandestine activities beneath the humanitarian agency’s premises.
“The tunnel serves as a nerve center for Hamas intelligence operations,” asserted an Israeli lieutenant colonel, disclosing offices, server rooms, and emptied safes within the covert complex. While UNRWA maintains its inability to police-military incursions, critics argue the agency’s complicity in Hamas activities undermines its humanitarian mission.
Despite UNRWA’s evacuation of the headquarters early in the conflict, questions persist over the agency’s oversight. Hamas denies allegations of operating within civilian facilities, complicating efforts to ascertain culpability.
As journalists grappled with restricted access and prohibitions on sensitive documentation, the tunnel’s discovery underscores the tangled web of political and humanitarian interests in the Gaza Strip.
