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Israel urges UN to designate Hamas a terror group

Israel is urging the UN to designate Hamas as a terror group after a dangerous tunnel was found under schools in Gaza. 

Israel has called on the United Nations (UN) to officially designate Hamas as a terrorist organization following last week’s exposure of a tunnel running beneath two schools in Gaza administered by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), which was tasked with providing support to Palestinian “refugees.”

It was not the first time Hamas has endangered children using UNRWA premises. For example, a UN inquiry into the 2014 Gaza war confirmed that at least three UNRWA schools were used by Hamas terrorists to hide weapons and that rockets were likely fired from them on at least two occasions. At the time, UNRWA confirmed that 20 rockets were found in one of its vacant schools, but nonetheless returned the deadly weapons to the terror group.

In a letter sent by Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon to the UN Security Council on Friday, he called on the world body to “strongly and unequivocally condemn Hamas and its repeated misuse of civilian infrastructure, and designate this group as a terrorist organization.”

“It is of the utmost importance that the Council ensures that all UN-affiliated agencies, and especially UNRWA, remain neutral and safeguarded from abuse by terrorist organizations,” Danon stated.

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Danon underscored that this incident was “the latest of deeply concerning attempts by Hamas terrorists to systematically exploit the organs of the UN,” which are not only threatening Israel and the residents of Gaza, but also hindering humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

“Despite the repeated efforts of my delegation, our reports of Hamas’ military buildup and use of children in military campaigns have fallen on deaf ears. This time, the international community must not turn a blind eye toward such cynical exploitation,” Danon demanded.

The letter was also sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Gunerres.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday urged that UNRWA be closed down.

By: World Israel News Staff