Israeli Soldiers Discover Sniper Rifle and Ammunition Hidden Inside Teddy Bear at Gaza School

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
09/12/2023 20h46

Israeli soldiers conducting a raid on a school compound in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shejaia made a shocking discovery on Friday. During heavy fighting with a Hamas terrorist cell in the area, the soldiers found a sniper rifle and a box of ammunition hidden inside a large teddy bear, according to reports from Israeli news outlets.

A video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed soldiers uncovering the weapon cache after pulling the giant teddy bear from a pile of furniture and other items scattered across the classroom. The IDF disclosed that the school was being used for terror purposes by Hamas.

Further searches of the compound revealed more hidden weaponry in classrooms at an adjacent school, specifically in bags labeled "UNRWA," which stands for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The discovery raises concerns about the misuse of civilian areas by Hamas for its terrorist activities.

In addition to the weapons, the IDF also found a tunnel shaft inside one of the classrooms. This finding adds to mounting evidence that Hamas utilizes civilian areas, including hospitals and shelters, as cover for their operations.

This recent discovery follows the IDF's announcement earlier in the week about the unearthing of one of the largest Hamas weapons stockpiles in the history of their operations in Gaza, located next to a school and a hospital. The cache reportedly contained hundreds of missiles, explosives, and other weapons.

Israeli warplanes continued their strikes on parts of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, utilizing land, sea, and air bombardment. Reports indicate that the areas targeted had been previously designated for Palestinian evacuation.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed grave concern on Friday, stating that Gaza's humanitarian support system is on the verge of collapse, and some Arab countries expressed dissatisfaction with the US veto. Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, criticized the veto, calling it a "mark of shame" for the United States.

As the war enters its third month, the death toll in Gaza stands at over 17,400, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip. The IDF reported the deaths of five Israeli soldiers on Saturday, bringing the total deaths since the start of the war to 97, including 1,200 Israelis killed in a Hamas terror attack in southern Israel on October 7.

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