Top Hamas Commander Killed in Lebanon: UNRWA Employee Under Scrutiny Amid Funding Crisis

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees confirmed that Fatah Sharif, a Hamas commander killed in Lebanon, was one of its employees. However, he had been suspended since March due to allegations of his ties to the militant group. This situation is likely to increase pressure on UNRWA, which is already dealing with an $80 million funding gap this year.

Funding Challenges and Allegations

Critics have often accused UNRWA of not doing enough to remove Hamas militants from its staff. The UN's internal watchdog has been investigating the agency since Israel accused 12 of its employees of involvement in the October 7 attack on Israel. This attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 others. These allegations led over a dozen donor countries to halt their funding, initially causing a financial shortfall of approximately $450 million. All donor countries except the United States have since resumed funding.

Sharif was reportedly killed along with his family in an airstrike at Al-Buss refugee camp in Tyre, a southern port city. The Israeli military confirmed targeting him. Although Sharif did not openly disclose his affiliation with Hamas and its armed wing, Israel has previously claimed that UNRWA has been infiltrated by the group.

Reactions and Investigations

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva commented on X that Sharif was also a principal and head of the UNRWA teachers association in Lebanon. They stated, "This case proves that there is a deep problem in @UNRWA, the way they do due diligence about who they are hiring." UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini learned of Sharif's alleged ties to Hamas in March and suspended him while launching an investigation.

Lazzarini mentioned he had not heard about Sharif being a Hamas commander until recently. He stated, "So he was suspended, had no function, was not paid and was under investigation." He emphasized that the agency respects due process and the rule of law. Lazzarini also received a list from Israeli authorities naming about 100 individuals allegedly linked to Hamas but noted that Israel did not provide further information for investigations.

A statement from Hamas praised Sharif for his "educational and jihadist work," describing him as "a successful teacher and an outstanding principal" for Palestinian refugees. The UNRWA teachers union and other Palestinian groups have protested against Sharif's suspension, claiming it targeted him for his political views.

Ongoing Criticism and Impact

Israel has been critical of UNRWA and Lazzarini's leadership. In July, David Mencer from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government called Lazzarini "one of the bad guys," accusing him of being a "terrorist sympathizer" and "Jew-killing enabler." In response, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric labeled these remarks as "reprehensible" and threatening.

UNRWA employs 32,000 staff across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestinian territories, including 13,000 in Gaza who provide essential services like education and healthcare to millions of Palestinians. Its facilities in Gaza have been attacked multiple times. Lazzarini reported that 223 UNRWA staff members have died in Gaza during the conflict, marking the highest toll ever for UN employees in a single conflict.

The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in 41,615 deaths according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. This situation continues to pose significant challenges for UNRWA as it strives to maintain its operations amidst criticism and financial difficulties.