To his scholars, Ahmad al-Khatib was once a deputy primary at an fundamental college in Gaza run by way of the United Countries company for Palestinian refugees. To Hamas’s army wing, paperwork say, he was once one thing else completely: an infantryman working out of the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.The army wing, referred to as the Qassam Brigades, stored meticulous information of its combatants, monitoring the guns they have been issued and often comparing the whole thing from their health to their loyalty.Mr. al-Khatib, an worker of the U.N. company since 2013, was once amongst them: Secret inside Hamas paperwork shared with The New York Instances by way of the Israeli executive say that he held the rank of squad commander, was once knowledgeable in flooring struggle and were given a minimum of a dozen guns, together with a Kalashnikov and hand grenades.The refugee company, referred to as UNRWA, operated colleges throughout Gaza sooner than they have been shuttered within the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault on Israel and the following struggle. The company, which employs kind of 13,000 other people, together with 1000’s within the colleges, has an obligation to take care of the neutrality of its amenities within the war zones during which it operates, together with by way of protecting militants off its premises and payrolls.However interviews and an research of the information shared with The Instances by way of the Israeli army and overseas ministry point out that Mr. al-Khatib was once certainly one of a minimum of 24 other people hired by way of UNRWA — in 24 other colleges — who have been contributors of Hamas or Islamic Jihad, some other militant crew. Earlier than the struggle, the company was once answerable for a complete of 288 colleges, housed in 200 other construction compounds, in Gaza.A majority have been most sensible directors on the colleges — principals or deputy principals — and the remaining have been college counselors and lecturers, the paperwork say. Virtually all the Hamas-linked educators, in keeping with the information, have been combatants within the Qassam Brigades.Thanks to your endurance whilst we examine get right of entry to. In case you are in Reader mode please go out and log into your Instances account, or subscribe for all of The Instances.Thanks to your endurance whilst we examine get right of entry to.Already a subscriber? Log in.Need all of The Instances? Subscribe.
