Israeli Media Reports Discovery of 'Advanced Technologies' Linked to the Islamic Republic Under UNRWA Headquarters

Israeli state television, Channel 11, reported on Monday, February 19, that Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip found evidence linking the Iranian government to Hamas militants in Gaza and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). According to the report, the Israeli army and intelligence agencies are investigating this equipment, which apparently originated from China. During a recent attack on the UNRWA headquarters in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, the Israeli army discovered a Hamas data center beneath the UNRWA building, filled with servers, power cables, a generator, and living quarters. The television report stated that this equipment is 'technology belonging to the Iranian regime' that had apparently entered Gaza via China. Reports indicate that Israeli forces destroyed a server cluster (a collection of computer servers) and other technological equipment during this operation, killing 120 members of militant groups. Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, told reporters on Friday that Israeli forces have information indicating that 30 UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas massacre on October 6. He shared the names and images of 12 UNRWA employees previously accused by Israel of involvement in the Hamas attack in southern Israel. One of these individuals is Faisal al-Naimi, a UNRWA social worker, who Israel claims was identified on October 6 in Israeli territory and played a role in the abduction of an Israeli soldier. Another is Ala Joudah, a UNRWA religious teacher who was also a battalion commander in Hamas's Nasiriyah Brigade. He was arrested in Israeli territory. According to Gallant, 1,468 of the 13,000 UNRWA employees in Gaza are members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Israel first reported the connection between UNRWA and Hamas in early February, leading several countries, including the United States and many others, to suspend financial aid to the organization. The United Nations has also begun an independent special group to investigate the agency's connection with Hamas. António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, stated that nine staff members of the agency identified in the Israeli report as Hamas members have been dismissed. The Israeli army had previously reported the discovery of Hamas tunnels beneath the main UNRWA headquarters in Gaza. According to the Associated Press, the Israeli army invited journalists to visit the discovered tunnels. An Associated Press journalist estimated that the tunnel network discovered beneath the main UNRWA headquarters in Gaza extends at least half a kilometer and has at least ten entrances. The Israeli army found rifles, ammunition, grenades, and explosives at UNRWA facilities that were used by Hamas members. One of the main objectives of Israel's attack on Gaza is to destroy this tunnel network that Hamas uses to move its members, weapons, and equipment throughout Gaza. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure such as schools, mosques, and UN facilities to attack the country. Iran has waged a proxy war against Israel through terrorist groups such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Ansar Allah in Yemen. Before the October 6 Hamas attack on Israel, Iran had trained 500 terrorists affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Images of Yahya Sinwar in Gaza tunnels have been released; the Israeli army claims to have found millions of dollars in this location. Netanyahu stated, 'Those who tell us not to enter Rafah are saying do not win against Hamas.' Israel announced the discovery of Hamas tunnels beneath the main UNRWA headquarters in Gaza. The US Secretary of State stated that the Islamic Republic has made progress in 'sabotage efforts.' The complete sanctioning of UNRWA; the US State Department is seeking a replacement organization to send aid to Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Minister stated, 'UNRWA is part of Hamas's killing machine and has no place in Gaza after the war.' Netanyahu called for the closure of the 'United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.' Britain, Italy, and Finland have also suspended financial aid to 'UNRWA.'