The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has confirmed that a senior Hamas commander killed in Lebanon on Monday was previously employed by the agency but had been suspended since March due to allegations of his ties to the militant group. The Israeli Army announced that it had “eliminated” Fatah Sharif, Hamas’ leader in Lebanon, as part of its ongoing operations against Iran-backed militant organizations in the region
Fatah Sharif was killed alongside his wife, son, and daughter in an airstrike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre. This camp is one of 12 established to house Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The Israeli military confirmed that Sharif had been the target of this strike. According to the UNRWA, Sharif had been employed as the head of the teachers’ association for UNRWA in Lebanon but had been suspended earlier this year when allegations of his affiliation with Hamas came to light. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini clarified that Sharif had not been paid or had any functional role within the organization since his suspension, and an investigation into his alleged ties was ongoing.
Hamas has announced the Death of Fathi al-Sharif, a Senior Leader for Hamas Operations in Lebanon as well as the Head of the U.N. Teachers Union in Lebanon, for which he works under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Sharif as well as his Family were Eliminated yesterday… pic.twitter.com/RAN9QAXjFt
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 30, 2024
UNRWA is currently experiencing an $80 million funding shortfall, exacerbated by previous allegations that it employed individuals involved in Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, where militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted about 250 others. These allegations prompted over a dozen donor countries to halt funding, leading to an initial financial crisis of approximately $450 million. While most donor countries have since resumed their support, the United States remains the only major donor yet to lift its suspension.
The situation has intensified pressure on the UN agency, with critics pointing to Sharif’s case as evidence of deeper problems within the organization. The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva publicly highlighted Sharif’s dual role as both a Hamas leader and a principal within UNRWA’s educational staff, emphasizing concerns about the agency’s hiring and vetting processes.
Philippe Lazzarini emphasized that UNRWA is committed to maintaining due process and upholding the rule of law. He noted that a list provided by Israeli authorities earlier in the year, alleging links between 100 UNRWA staff members and Hamas, was treated with seriousness, but stressed that a list alone does not constitute proof.
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