Hamas rejects claims it has tunnels under Gaza schools

By Eshat Fırat

GAZA (AA) - Hamas on Friday denied recent claims it had tunnels under two schools in Gaza.

The denial came after the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said a tunnel belonging to Hamas passed under two schools in the Maghazi refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

"Hamas strongly rejects UNRWA claims on tunnels," according to the group’s spokesman, Fawzi Barhum, who said the UNRWA claims could be exploited by Israel to attack civilians.

The agency said it found part of a tunnel that passes under two adjacent schools drun by the UN.

"The discovery was made during the summer vacation, at a time when the schools are empty, and in the course of work related to the construction of an extension of one of the buildings," the agency said Friday.