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Records Seized by Israel Show Hamas Presence in UN Schools

(New York Times) Jo Becker - Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, kept meticulous records of its fighters, tracking the weapons they were issued and regularly evaluating everything from their fitness to their loyalty. Secret internal Hamas documents shared with the New York Times by the Israeli government say that at least 24 people employed by UNRWA in 24 different schools across Gaza were members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. A majority were top administrators - principals or deputy principals - and the rest were school counselors and teachers, the documents say. Among the seized records are secret Hamas military plans that show that the Qassam Brigades regarded schools and other civilian facilities as "the best obstacles to protect the resistance." The documents also list two schools in particular that were to be used as redoubts where fighters could hide and stash weapons in a conflict. The seized records - coupled with interviews of current and former UNRWA employees, residents and former students in Gaza - offer the most detailed evidence yet of the extent of Hamas's presence inside UNRWA schools. In several cases, educators remained employed by UNRWA even after Israel provided written warnings that they were militants. Residents of Gaza said in interviews that the idea that Hamas had operatives in UNRWA schools was an open secret.
2024-12-10 00:00:00
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