Damning evidence of the extent of UNRWA’s ties and material assistance to Hamas continues to pour in. Over the weekend, the IDF revealed its discovery of a Hamas tunnel network under UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters housing a sophisticated data center with electricity cables running straight up into the UNRWA headquarters, connecting it to UNRWA’s electricity network. This came just two weeks after the Wall Street Journal exposed Israeli intelligence reports that at least 12 UNRWA employees had participated in the October 7th attack and that 1,200 UNRWA employees in Gaza-representing 10% of UNRWA’s Gaza workforce-are Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives.
These revelations just reinforce our conclusions after nearly ten years of researching UNRWA staff incitement to terrorism and antisemitism on social media-UNRWA in Gaza has been fully infiltrated by Hamas and is incapable of serving as a neutral humanitarian actor in the region.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of evidence of UNRWA’s aid to Hamas and other terrorists in Gaza on an after October 7th:
1. UNRWA supplies premises, electricity with Hamas. Sophisticated Hamas Data Center found running under UNRWA Gaza Headquarters, connected to UNRWA electricity cables. The tunnel system and data center included a kitchenette and living quarters. There was also a perimeter wall with a gate and security cameras documenting who entered and exited the complex. Inside the UNRWA headquarters itself, IDF troops found several caches of weapons, equipment, and documents that indicated that the same offices were also used by Hamas. (Times of Israel, February 11, 2024; @IDFSpokesperson, February 10, 2024).
Ten days earlier, The Wall Street Journal had reported: “In 2014, part of the parking lot at the Unrwa headquarters in Gaza began sinking, likely from a Hamas tunnel dug beneath. ‘No one talked about what was causing the collapse,’ a former Unrwa official said, “but everyone knew.’”
2. UNRWA aid used by Hamas. Bags of UNRWA labeled concrete found in tunnels used by Hamas to hold hostages (shown in video clip at 4:50 and 7:10) (Economic Times YouTube, February 8, 2024).
3. UNRWA member works for Hamas. On January 7th, the IDF released footage of a raid on a house where they found a suicide vest, Hamas military kit, Kalashnikov rifles, and an UNRWA membership card. (@EylonALevy, January 30, 2024).
4. At least 12 UNRWA staff participated in October 7. Israeli intelligence found evidence that at least 12 UNRWA employees participated in the October 7th attack, including six that took part in the invasion, two that held hostages, and others that transported ammunition (The Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2024; New York Times, January 28, 2024).
5. 1,200 UNRWA employees are Hamas and PIJ operatives. Israeli intelligence estimated that 10% of UNRWA’s Gaza workforce, equaling 1,200 UNRWA employees, are Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives while 50% or 6,000 UNRWA employees have immediate family members who are affiliate with these terror groups. (The Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2024).
6. UNRWA aid commandeered by Hamas. Photo of armed Hamas militants atop an UNRWA aid truck entering UNRWA logistics facility in Gaza. (@JoeTruzman, January 26, 2024; Jewish Insider, January 26, 2024).
7. UNRWA facilities used for Hamas weapons storage. Col. Elad Shushan, commander of the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade: “There is not a UNRWA site, school, mosque, or kindergarten in which we didn’t find weapons. None. One hundred percent.” (Times of Israel, January 18, 2024).
8. UNRWA aid stolen by Hamas. In recorded call with Israel, Gaza resident who works for American aid organization testifies that Hamas systematically steals equipment and food, including stealing from UNRWA warehouses. (@cogatonline, January 8, 2024).
9. UNRWA aid bags used by Hamas to stores equipment. Photo shows Nukhba military vests found in UNRWA bags inside a medical clinic. (@cogatonline, January 6, 2024).
10. UN equipment used by Hamas. UN vests were found together with ammunition and explosives, some inside UNRWA aid bags. (@IDF, December 25, 2023).
11. Vehicles and machines stolen from UNRWA facility. According to a social media user in Gaza, vehicles and heavy machinery were stolen from an UNRWA facility (@JoeTruzman, December 25, 2023).
12. UNRWA aid bags used to store weapons. IDF video shows explosives, a Kalashnikov rifle, and an RPG that had been found stored in UNRWA aid bags. (IDF Website, December 11, 2023).
13. UNRWA aid bags used to store weapons. Photos and video show Hamas weapons found UNRWA aid bags inside a mosque in Shuja’iyya. (@cogatonline, Dec. 11, 2023; @JoeTruzman, December 11, 2024).
14. UNRWA School used as base to fire weapons. IDF video shows Hamas terrorists firing weapons from inside an UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun. (@IDF, December 9, 2023).
15. UNRWA aid bags used to store weapons. Video shows weapons found in a school which had been stored in UNRWA aid bags. (@IDFSpokesperson, December 9, 2023).
16. Hamas fires rockets from near UN facility. Satellite photo shows site from where Hamas launched 12 rockets at Israeli civilians. Site is in close proximity to a UN facility. (@cogatonline, December 7, 2023).
17. Weapons hidden under UNRWA equipment. IDF forces found dozens of missiles and Grad rockets hidden underneath UNRWA equipment. (Jerusalem Post, December 2, 2023; @JoeTruzman, December 2, 2023; @IDFSpokesperson, December 2, 2023).
18. UNRWA aid stolen by Hamas. Video shows UNRWA aid bags inside Hamas terror tunnel. (@cogatonline, November 30, 2023).
19. UNRWA Teacher Holds Israeli Hostage. Returned Israeli captive testified he was held captive by an UNRWA teacher in an attic for 50 days. (@bokeralmog, November 29, 2023).
20. Hamas terror tunnel located near UNRWA school. On November 8, 2023, the IDF destroyed a Hamas terror tunnel that had been located adjacent to an UNRWA school. (FDD, November 10, 2023; @JoeTruzman, November 8, 2023; @IDF, December 3, 2023).
21. Hamas fires rockets from near UN facility. Satellite image shows Hamas rocket launching site next to UN building. (@IDF, October 22, 2023).
22. Hamas fires rockets from near UN facility. Satellite image shows Hamas rocket launching site next to UNRWA school. (@cogatonline, October 19, 2023).
23. UNRWA fuel stolen by Hamas. Hamas Ministry of Health stole 24,000 liters of fuel from an UNRWA facility (@HillelNeuer citing @UNRWA, October 16, 2023; @cogatonline citing @UNRWA, October 16, 2023).
