Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered a tunnel and headquarters terrorist organization Hamas under the main building UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA, UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip. The IDF announced this on Saturday, February 10.
According to the army, there is a tunnel 700 meters long and 18 meters deep underground, equipped with blast doors, leading to the data center. The underground base’s electrical infrastructure was connected to UNRWA headquarters. This, according to the Israeli military, may indicate that the organization supplied electricity to the tunnels: “There is no doubt that UNRWA employees knew that (Hamas. – Ord.) is digging a huge tunnel under them. UNRWA provides cover for Hamas, UNRWA knows exactly what is happening underground, and UNRWA uses its budget to finance some of Hamas’ military capabilities, that’s for sure,” said IDF Col. Benny Aharon.
IDF soldiers later conducted a “targeted raid” on UNRWA central headquarters. “A large number of weapons were found inside the building, including rifles, ammunition, grenades and explosives,” the Israelis claim. They added that intelligence and documents found in the offices confirmed their use by Hamas terrorists.
UNRWA involvement in the October 7 attack
In January, Israeli authorities provided UN leadership with information about participation of 12 UNRWA personnel in the Hamas attack on Israel October 7, 2023. It was later confirmed by the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres. The agency terminated the contracts of the employees involved in the attack and promised to investigate.
As a result, the authorities of the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany and a number of other EU countries decided to suspend funding for the agency. Guterres later called on donor countries to restore funding UNRWA. A similar call was made on Monday, February 5 head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in turn, demanded the abolition of the UN Palestinian agency.
Hamas attack on Israel
Escalation of conflict in the Middle East began after the radical Islamist movement Hamas, recognized by the European Union and the United States as a terrorist organization, carried out a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Terrorists launched a massive missile attack on Israel and, having invaded its territory, carried out the most massive massacre of civilians in the history of the modern Israeli state. 1,400 people became its victims. The militants also captured more than 200 hostages and took them to Gaza Strip.
Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas. The country’s army is carrying out massive strikes on this densely populated Palestinian region, which is under Hamas rule, and is also conducting a ground military operation. Some 28,000 people have already died in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. It is not possible to confirm these data from independent sources.
See also:
Large-scale Hamas attack on Israel and the IDF response
On the morning of October 7, 2023, the radical Islamist movement Hamas began massive rocket attacks on southern and central Israel. Militants invaded the country. About the new escalation of the conflict – in the DW photo gallery.
Photo: Amir Cohen/REUTERS
Surprise attack
On the morning of October 7, against the backdrop of massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, militants of the radical Islamist movement Hamas penetrated into the border areas of Israel. The commander of the military wing of Hamas, Mohammed al-Deif, called what was happening “the day of the great revolution,” declaring that the Palestinian people were “returning to the project of creating a state.”
Photo: Mohammed Salem/REUTERS
Mass conscription of reservists in Israel
In response to the Hamas attack, the Israeli Ministry of Defense began a massive call-up of reservists and declared a state of emergency within a radius of 80 km from the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a “state of alert.”
Photo: Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP/Getty Images
Address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fellow citizens
Hamas, which the European Union, the United States and Israel classify as a terrorist organization, has fired thousands of rockets at Israeli cities, according to the United Nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing his fellow citizens, said that his country is in a state of war.
Photo: AFP
IDF retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip
Israeli aircraft carried out a number of strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the country’s naval forces reported that they had destroyed a large number of “Palestinian militants” attempting to invade Israel by sea.
Photo: Mohammed Salem/REUTERS
Palestinian invasion of Israel
Palestinian factions in the West Bank have also declared a state of general alert. They called for an immediate attack from all points “against the occupying forces and their settlers.” In the photo: Palestinians seized an IDF military vehicle after the invasion of Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Photo: Mohammed Talatene/dpa/picture alliance
Hundreds of dead and wounded
By the evening of October 7, Israeli media reported at least 250 Israeli deaths. Almost 1,500 Israelis had been wounded by that time, and about 35 people had been taken hostage. Information about the presence of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip was also confirmed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. In turn, the Palestinian side announced 232 dead and almost 1,700 wounded in Israeli airstrikes.
Photo: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images
Solidarity of European leaders with Israel
A number of European leaders have expressed support for Israel. Thus, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, condemned “the indiscriminate attacks launched against Israel and its people, sowing terror and violence against innocent citizens.” The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, also expressed solidarity with Israel on behalf of the EU.
Photo: Ilan Rosenberg/REUTERS
Support for the Israeli people by Germany and other countries
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as representatives of Great Britain, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and other European countries spoke with words of support for the Israeli people and condemnation towards Islamists from Hamas.
Photo: Thomas Trutschel/IMAGO
US and NATO support for Israel
Washington has strongly condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel. The US Department of Defense promised to work to ensure that Israel has “everything it needs to defend itself.” NATO also condemned the Hamas attack on Israel.
Photo: Liu Jie/Xinhua/picture alliance
Emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation around Israel
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned “in the strongest terms” Hamas attacks on Israeli cities. At the same time, he called on the parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint and ensure the protection of civilians. Meanwhile, Brazil, which will chair the UN Security Council in October 2023, announced the convening of its emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East.
Фото: Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Xinhua/picture alliance
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in the colors of the Israeli flag
In Berlin, on the night of October 8, the Brandenburg Gate was illuminated with the colors of the Israeli flag as a sign of solidarity with Israel, which was attacked by the radical Islamist movement Hamas.
Photo: Sven Käuler/dpa/picture alliance
IDF strike on Lebanon in response to Hezbollah shelling of Israel
The northern part of Israel was shelled from Lebanese territory on October 8, the Israeli military command reported. According to him, the shells fell in the area of Mount Dov on the border with Lebanon. The Lebanese radical Shiite group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the mortar attack. In response, the Israeli army launched artillery strikes on targets in Lebanon.
Photo: Aziz Taher/REUTERS
Actions of solidarity with Israel in German cities
On October 8, rallies of solidarity with Israel took place in a number of German cities. In the photo: demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Photo: Christoph Strack/DW
Israeli flag in front of the German Chancellor’s Office in Berlin
On October 8, the Israeli flag was raised in front of the Federal Chancellor’s office in Berlin, along with the flags of Germany and the European Union. The Israeli flag was also raised in front of the Bundestag building and the residence of the President of Germany – Bellevue Palace.
Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance&
What’s happening on the Gaza Strip border with Egypt
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2024-02-11 16:20:31
