UN Agency Identifies Hamas Leader Killed in Lebanon as Its Staff Member

Hamas Leader and UNRWA Employee Killed in Israeli Airstrike.

Fateh Sherif, a Hamas leader in Lebanon and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employee, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday at the al-Bass refugee camp in Tyre. Sherif had been suspended from his position at UNRWA in March due to allegations related to his political activities, but had not been dismissed.

UNRWA’s Response

An UNRWA spokesperson stated that Sherif was placed on administrative leave without pay in March, pending an investigation into allegations about his political activities. However, UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer criticized UNRWA for failing to act sooner, citing Sherif’s open incitement of terrorism on social media for over a decade.

Israeli Airstrikes Escalate Conflict

Sherif’s killing coincided with reports of Israeli airstrikes killing three leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Beirut. Israeli officials have stated that they will continue operations against threats to their civilians, with recent strikes targeting militant groups across the region, resulting in over 1,000 reported deaths in Lebanon.

Global Reaction

The conflict has sparked international concern, with Iran vowing retaliation and President Biden calling for efforts to avoid a full-scale war in the Middle East. The escalation is part of a broader tensions between Israel and Iran, which have been ongoing since April 2024.