Al-Azhar University: Terror Tunnels and Rocket Launchers Found at US- and EU-Funded Jihad University in Gaza

Al-Azhar University is the main training facility of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood  in Gaza. It was funded with $10,000 by the US government in 2019, and with €5 million by the EU 2015-2020. Now IDF troops have reached the campus and found extensive military infrastructure and armaments.

(TJV) Al-Azhar University emerged as a focal point for Hamas activities, serving as a facility to construct and store Qassam rockets aimed at Israel. The destruction of the university by IAF airstrikes on November 4 revealed a clandestine network of terror infrastructure. Following this, IDF ground forces reached the site’s ruins and made significant discoveries, unearthing extensive terror tunnels and caches of weapons.

Among the findings was a terror tunnel stretching from the university yard to a school located 1 kilometer away. This discovery underscored the sophisticated network used by Hamas for strategic purposes. IDF troops also identified an underground tunnel originating from the university’s yard and extending to a nearby school. The cache included a range of weaponry such as explosive devices, rocket parts, launchers, explosive device detonation systems, and other technological assets. These findings were meticulously collected for intelligence analysis and further investigation.

The IDF’s operation revealed that Hamas had repurposed university buildings for attacks against IDF forces, a concerning revelation that adds complexity to the multifaceted nature of the conflict. Additionally, a raid on a Hamas observation control room near the Shati Hospital uncovered 200 communication devices and dozens of cameras. Further inspection in this area exposed an operational tunnel shaft, magazines, grenades, a sniper post, military equipment, and firing holes.

Notably, it was disclosed that the Fulbright Program had funded several Al-Azhar University “scholars” since 1994, allowing them to travel to the United States. Furthermore, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) granted the Hamas-affiliated university €175,000 in 2015, as revealed by a statement from Al-Azhar.

The aftermath of these revelations saw the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticizing the Israeli government’s actions, characterizing them as part of a “genocidal campaign” involving “indiscriminate attacks on refugee camps.” In response to CAIR’s statements, the Israeli Air Force’s actions against Al-Azhar University have been justified, emphasizing the need to dismantle terrorist infrastructure.

Despite these developments, CAIR has refrained from commenting on the latest findings, underscoring the complex dynamics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, discussions about the conflict have extended to international platforms, with the White House reportedly stealth-editing its website to remove mention of CAIR. White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates condemned CAIR’s executive director’s “shocking, antisemitic statements” and expressed solidarity with those affected by the horrific attacks committed by Hamas on October 7, describing them as “abhorrent” and representing “unadulterated evil.” The White House highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the responsibility of leaders to denounce antisemitism wherever it arises