UNRWA denounces tunnel discovered under Gaza school
The UN agency responsible for supporting Palestinian refugees announced that it discovered a tunnel underneath one of its schools in Gaza.
A man walks by a UNRWA school in Gaza City Photo by Majdi Fathi/TPS
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said “a man-made cavity underneath the grounds of an UNRWA school in Gaza” was discovered, and that the agency sealed the cavity.
“The presence of a man-made cavity underneath the grounds of an UNRWA school is a serious violation of the Agency’s neutrality and a breach of international law. Moreover, it exposes children and Agency staff to significant security and safety risks,” the agency’s statement said.
More than 291,000 Palestinian students attend classes in 278 UNRWA-administered schools across Gaza.
Israeli officials have denounced Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for endangering civilians by deliberately maintaining tunnels, weapons caches, and command and control centres amidst apartments, schools, health clinics and mosques.
