What’s new:
A Hamas-operated tunnel housing intelligence assets has been uncovered beneath the Gaza City headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), spearheaded by the Shin Bet security service and the IDF’s 401st Brigade.
Why it matters:
The unearthing of the tunnel exposes and intensifies the complexities in relations between UN aid organizations and Hamas — designated a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S., and the EU. It sheds light on the sensitive issue of humanitarian spaces being exploited for terror activities. The discovery is significant because it points to the potential leveraging of UNRWA-operated facilities by Hamas for mobilization and logistics while staying under the guise of civilian operations.
By the numbers:
During a focused military campaign, about 120 Hamas militants have reportedly been neutralized, and some 20 terrorist sites were targeted for destruction by Israeli forces. The site which ran 700 meters long at a depth of about 18 meters possibly provided a strategic advantage for the militant operations.
Key details:
Evidence suggests the electricity for the tunnel’s operations came directly from the UNRWA power supplies, codifying the tunnel’s undocumented relationship with the UN facilities. Additionally, a Hamas server farm was ascertained beneath the headquarters, indicating a deeper level of interaction between the UN agency and Hamas. The destruction of a communications room’s cables linked to this server farm disrupted crucial Hamas connections, hampering their capability for launching attacks.
The bigger picture:
This incident may incite further scrutiny on global funding of UN humanitarian programs in areas controlled by known terror organizations. It may also provoke discussions about necessary oversight mechanisms to prevent the misuse of such resources.
What comes next:
The IDF’s capture of intelligence from the tunnel could be a game changer by enabling Israeli forces to be more tactical in their mission to contain and counteract terrorism emanating from the Gaza Strip. On a geopolitical level, the revelation may prompt a reevaluation of UNRWA’s activities, their monitoring policies and the safeguarding of humanitarian aid to ensure it supports civilian populations without complementing hostile entities.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.