The IDF revealed on Friday that the Israeli air force struck and eliminated Hamas terrorists sheltering inside an UNRWA school as they planned attacks on Israel.
The terrorists had been utilizing the school grounds of the 'Asmaa' UNRWA school in Shati as a Hamas Operations Cell and meeting point for Hamas terrorists, the military reported.
Using civilian infrastructure
The terrorists eliminated had reportedly been planning an imminent attack on Israel while using the school as a civilian shield for their terrorist activities.
The IDF stated that it had taken numerous steps to mitigate harm to civilians.
IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner confirmed on X "This is the 6th time we’ve identified abuse of UNRWA premises by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the last month. We took the necessary measures to distinguish between the terrorists and civilians near by."
Lerner also challenged " ’ @UNLazzarini UNRWA @TomWhiteCW8 ?"
, , ’ @UN… pic.twitter.com/m7AbvUs0HK
— Lt. Col. (R) Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) June 7, 2024
Hamas has frequently used civilian infrastructure throughout the war and since it took over the Gaza Strip, the IDF emphasized.
"The Hamas terror organization systematically, intentionally and strategically places its infrastructure and operates from within civilian areas, in full violation of international law and while putting the lives of Gazan civilians at risk," the military stated.
Many UNRWA facilities were found to house Hamas military infrastructure, and the headquarters of the UN agency was even found above a Hamas terror tunnel.
The IDF conducted a strike on another UNRWA school facility on Thursday, killing 20-30 terrorists. The IDF has published the names of nine of those terrorists killed.