There have long been concerns that the UNRWA, an agency of the anti-Israel United Nations, has been infested with terrorists. The agency confirmed that Fateh Sharif, who served as Hamas' leader in Lebanon, worked for them. He was even the chairman of their Teachers' Association and was principal of the UNRWA-run Deir Yassin Secondary School. He was one of the many terrorists killed in recent days by Israeli Air Force strikes.
The agency appears to be trying to cover for these connections to terrorists. "Fateh Al Sharif was an UNRWA employee who was put on administrative leave without pay in March, and was undergoing an investigation following allegations that UNRWA received about his political activities," a statement from the agency to The Times of Israel read.
As United Nations Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer has been posting throughout the day, though, Sharif's ties to Hamas was known by "Everyone in Lebanon." His organization also revealed Sharif's connections back in June.
The UNRWA Lebanon Director Claudio Cordone also awarded Sharif with a "Certification of Appreciation."
Amnesty International's former Secretary-General gave a “Certificate of Appreciation” to Hamas terrorist chief of Lebanon who was eliminated today.
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) September 30, 2024
Everyone in Lebanon knew that Fathi al-Sharif—UNRWA teachers union chief—was a top Hamas terrorist.
You knew, @claudio_cordone. https://t.co/lEiNqnpQp0
.@UNLazzarini You had to have known the head of your teachers union & school principal was the leader of Hamas in Lebanon, and that for decades he incited to terrorism—including openly on Facebook. If you claim you didn't know, you are the most incompetent CEO in history. Resign! https://t.co/iR1Opl8Tyb
— UN Watch (@UNWatch) September 30, 2024
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🇺🇳🏴☠️ UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini flew to Beirut in May for a closed meeting with Hamas, the Jihad, and the Houthis. The alliance of terror groups in Lebanon had shut down UNRWA for three months to protest the suspension of Fathi al-Sharif. The 2 sides reached “understandings.” https://t.co/GCAjHfY2U2
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) September 30, 2024
More coverage from The Times of Israel includes more information about Sharif, making clear he wasn't merely some low-level employee:
The IDF and Shin Bet in a joint statement confirm that the commander of Hamas in Lebanon was killed in an airstrike overnight.
The statement describes Fateh Sherif as the “head of the Lebanon branch of the Hamas terror organization.”
According to the military, Sherif was responsible for coordinating Hamas’s activity in Lebanon with Hezbollah, as well as Hamas’s “force build-up efforts in Lebanon, in the field of recruiting operatives and procuring weapons.”
He “worked to advance the interests of Hamas in [Lebanon], both politically and militarily,” the statement says.
After it was reported in January that a number of UNRWA staffers were involved in the October 7 attacks that Hamas perpetrated against Israel, the Biden-Harris administration finally paused funding to the group. That being said, the pause still only applied to new commitments. The admission from UNRWA about such employees came in early August, and nine employees were fired.
Damning revelations have continued to come out about UNRWA, as Townhall has been covering throughout the year. For instance, it was discovered in July that a Hamas command center and weapons were found at UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City.
So-called progressives in Congress have still demanded that UNRWA receive funding though, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), of the particularly anti-Israel Squad, throwing a temper tantrum at the time when those new commitments were cut off.
Just late last week, progressive members, including the particularly anti-Israel Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), as well as Rep. André Carson (D-IN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), introduced a bill to restore UNRWA funding, as Leah covered at the time.
Republicans, however, have issued calls to permanently cut off UNRWA funding.
"UNRWA’s confirmation that the head of Hamas forces in Lebanon, Fateh Sherif, was their employee is the latest proof that the United Nations has become a cesspool of antisemitism. President Trump rightfully cut off taxpayer dollars from funding UNRWA while Joe Biden and Kamala Harris outrageously reversed this decision and provided funding for an organization whose employees directly participated in the October 7th terrorist attacks against our most precious ally Israel. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris must permanently cut off UNRWA funding, revoke its tax-exempt status, and provide oversight of every U.S. dollar the UN receives," said Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the House Republican Conference chairwoman.
In response to Secretary-General António Guterres recently praising the UNRWA and calling for more support, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) chimed in with a reminder of the terrorist connections and an insistence that taxpayer dollars should be cut off.
Mast introduced legislation in January to permanently defund the agency.
The leader of Hamas in Lebanon was employed by UNRWA. The UN is subsidizing terrorism through UNRWA.
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) September 30, 2024
Not one more penny of AMERICAN tax dollars should go to UNRWA. https://t.co/XGcQOaHyC7
Despite calls for him to further address the situation, UNRWA Commissioner-General Phillippe Lazzarini has yet to post about the connection Sharif had to the UNRWA.
Today justice was delivered to UN “humanitarian worker” Fathi al-Sharif.
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) September 30, 2024
UNRWA school principal and head of the UNRWA Teachers Union by day; Hamas leader in Lebanon by night. Today they eulogized his “resistance teachings.”@UNLazzarini knew. ⬇️
He did nothing. He must resign. https://t.co/IBK1BkTPgo pic.twitter.com/L3avscKmya
The UNRWA account has, however, posted since then, including the most recent post calling for a "#CeasefireNow." There's another post that includes comments from Lazzarini to promote his agency and the supposed "education" provided for any "transition to be successful" in Gaza. Such remarks are particularly rich considering that his agency, including schools, is infested with terrorist leaders.
"If we want any transition to be successful in the context of #Gaza, you need an agency like @UNRWA to deliver on its core know-how: education."@UNLazzarini tells @UN_News that there is no alternative to UNRWA for education in Gaza except having a functioning state. pic.twitter.com/VyfCqNgnFx
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) September 29, 2024
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