Israel Releases Video of Armed Individuals at UN Site in Gaza

The Israeli army has released drone footage showing armed men standing next to U.N. marked vehicles at a United Nations compound in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, sparking calls for an investigation by the U.N.

According to an IDF statement, troops identified fighters in the central logistics compound of the U.N. Palestinian relief agency UNRWA east of Rafah, where the Israeli military has been operating for over a week. The U.N. spokesperson stated that the agency is examining the footage and will share information once available.

Reuters was able to locate the footage by matching nearby buildings, poles, railings, tanks on a roof, and greenery to satellite and file images. However, the date it was filmed and the identity of the armed men could not be verified.

Israel has been critical of UNRWA, accusing the agency of cooperating with Hamas in Gaza and calling for its disbandment. The agency denies these accusations and was set up to help Palestinian refugees displaced during the war around the creation of Israel in 1948.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has forwarded the footage to senior members of the international community, urging the U.N. to investigate the connection between UNRWA logistics centers and what he described as “Hamas operatives” near their vehicles.

The criticism of UNRWA comes at a time of growing international pressure on Israel to increase relief supplies into Gaza to alleviate a humanitarian crisis. Israel claims it is ready to allow unlimited humanitarian supplies into Gaza but blames U.N. relief agencies and other international bodies for failing to distribute aid properly.