(JNS.org) A senior Israeli official accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of returning 20 rockets discovered last week at one of the agency’s Gaza schools to Hamas.

“The rockets were passed on to the government authorities in Gaza, which is Hamas. In other words, UNRWA handed to Hamas rockets that could well be shot at Israel,” the Israeli official told the Times of Israel.

Christopher Gunness, UNRWA’s director of advocacy and strategic communications, said in a statement Monday, July 21, “Immediately after the discovery of the rockets, UNRWA proactively informed the relevant parties and successfully took all necessary measures for the removal of the objects in order to preserve the safety and security of the school. Local authorities fall under the government of national consensus in Ramallah. They pledged to pass a message to all parties not to violate UNRWA neutrality.”