Jerusalem: Amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, the Israeli military has disclosed the discovery of a tunnel shaft beneath a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah resulted in the deaths of at least 31 Palestinians, including a significant number of children.
The escalation of violence has forced over half of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants toward the border with Egypt, with many finding refuge in makeshift camps or overflowing UN-operated shelters. The conflict was initiated by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, leading to the loss of approximately 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of around 250 individuals. Hamas continues to hold over 130 hostages, with around 30 presumed deceased.
Israeli military personnel have uncovered an extensive tunnel network, some of which extends beneath the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City. This discovery underscores Israeli claims of Hamas's exploitation of humanitarian agencies for its own purposes. UNRWA has initiated an internal investigation in response to allegations made by Israel last month, resulting in several donor countries suspending funding.
The headquarters of UNRWA in Gaza City lies within the northern regions overrun by Israeli forces early in the four-month-long conflict against Hamas. This offensive prompted a mass exodus of civilians towards southern areas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's directive to prepare for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in Rafah preceded Israeli airstrikes that claimed the lives of 31 Palestinians, including many children. Overnight airstrikes targeted residential homes in the Rafah area, resulting in the deaths of 28 individuals.
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