Israel denies alleged destruction of UNRWA office in Nur Shams camp
FILE Ñ As photographed during an IDF escorted tour, Israeli soldiers outside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in central Gaza on Feb. 8, 2024. IsraelÕs Parliament passed two laws on Monday, Oct. 28, that could threaten the work of UNRWA, the main U.N. agency that aids Palestinians, by barring its operations in the country. (Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a statement refuting claims of responsibility for damage to the UNRWA office in the West Bank’s Nur Shams camp. Instead, the IDF blames Palestinian groups for the destruction.
According to the IDF statement, “The claim that the UNRWA offices in Nur Shams were destroyed by IDF soldiers is false.” The statement provides an alternative explanation, suggesting that terrorists planted explosives near the UNRWA offices.
The explosives were reportedly detonated in an attempt to harm IDF soldiers, and likely caused damage to the structure. The IDF‘s account contradicts initial reports blaming Israeli forces for the destruction.
The incident highlights the complex and often contentious nature of conflicts in the region, where attributing responsibility can be challenging.
Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed at least 43,204 Palestinians and wounded 101,641 since October 7, 2023. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and more than 200 were taken captive.
In Lebanon, at least 2,865 people have been killed and 13,047 wounded in Israeli attacks since the war on Gaza began.
