The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported Thursday that three soldiers were killed by a booby-trapped tunnel in Rafah, located within a medical clinic that was part of a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school.
In a statement, the IDF said:
Following an anti-tank missile attack from an UNRWA school targeting IDF troops, the 12th Brigade combat team conducted an operation in the school complex, which also includes a mosque and a medical clinic. During the operation at the medical clinic, two explosive charges in a booby-trapped tunnel shaft detonated, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers from the 50th Battalion of the Nahal Brigade: Staff Sergeant Amir Galilove, Staff Sergeant Uri Bar Or, and Staff Sergeant Ido Appel. Additionally, the operation uncovered large quantities of weapons within the complex, including firearms and grenades. Significant shafts leading to an extensive network of underground terror tunnels were found inside the classrooms at the school.
Israel has criticized UNRWA’s activities in Gaza, alleging that the agency indoctrinates Palestinians with anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiments, and accusing UNRWA employees of supporting and even participating in the October 7 Hamas terror attack in Israel.
The IDF’s preference for bombing hazardous locations over sending troops in is partly due to the risk of booby-trapped tunnels and buildings. Recently, the Biden administration has withheld the necessary bombs in protest of the Rafah operation.
