Rockets found at UNRWA school for third time

I'm starting to feel sorry for the UNRWA. After rockets were found in one of their schools for the third time, they must be running out of excuses.

I don't envy the job of their spokesman, Chris Gunness. This time around he didn't mention the incident on his Twitter feed and the UNRWA didn't announce it on their website.

A press release said, "All the relevant parties have been notified." That's a bit murky.

Likewise, the press release did not mention how many rockets were found and where they are now.

"This is yet another flagrant violation of the neutrality of our premises," said the press release. But that claim of neutrality is starting to ring hollow.

Following the first discovery, UNRWA workers called Hamas to come remove the rocket stockpile. And although UNRWA confirmed the second discovery last week, it refused an Israeli request to provide photos of the munitions found. 

One commentor referred to the UNRWA as the United Nations Rocket Works Agency.

In 2009, a video called Camp Jihad showed how Western countries are funding a summer camp program that teaches Gaza children how to

One 2009 article reports on an IDF video showing rockets being fired from an UNWRA facility, with Gunness admitting the school had been used for that purpose, but claiming that this was done without his knowledge and after it was deserted. "Allegations that UNRWA facilities are used by militants are always investigated and we will cooperate so our name can be cleared," Gunness stated.

After rockets were found at UNRWA schools for the third time, it's instructive to go back and take a look at how spokesman Chris Gunness defended his organization after the first time.

“This incident, which is the first of its kind in Gaza, endangered civilians including staff and put at risk UNRWA’s vital mission to assist and protect Palestine refugees in Gaza,” he said.
Asked what was being done to ensure those seeking shelter are not put in danger again, Gunness said the agency had begun an inquiry into the circumstances.
“UNRWA has strong, established procedures to maintain the neutrality of all its premises, including a strict no-weapons policy… UNRWA will uphold and further reinforce its procedures,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.msri.org.my/v5/archive/articles/gaza/gaza-nowhere-to-go/#sthash.ih9NaDuq.dpuf

 “This incident, which is the first of its kind in Gaza, endangered civilians including staff and put at risk UNRWA’s vital mission to assist and protect Palestine refugees in Gaza,” he said, adding that the agency was launching an inquiry into the matter.

“UNRWA has strong, established procedures to maintain the neutrality of all its premises, including a strict no-weapons policy…UNRWA will uphold and further reinforce its procedures."

If the agency does indeed have a "strict no-weapons policy," that policy has failed dismally. Not only have the discoveries further eroded UN credibility and neutrality, but the agency is in effect endangering the lives of people seeking shelter.

“This incident, which is the first of its kind in Gaza, endangered civilians including staff and put at risk UNRWA’s vital mission to assist and protect Palestine refugees in Gaza,” he said.
Asked what was being done to ensure those seeking shelter are not put in danger again, Gunness said the agency had begun an inquiry into the circumstances.
“UNRWA has strong, established procedures to maintain the neutrality of all its premises, including a strict no-weapons policy… UNRWA will uphold and further reinforce its procedures,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.msri.org.my/v5/archive/articles/gaza/gaza-nowhere-to-go/#sthash.ih9NaDuq.dpuf