Hamas leader in Lebanon killed - was UN employee

The Palestinian Hamas highest leader in Lebanon has been killed in an Israeli attack. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, states that he was a UN employee but had been suspended since March.

» Published:

Hamas leader in Lebanon killed - was UN employee
Photo: Hussein Malla/AP/TT

Share this article

The Hamas leader in Lebanon, Fateh Sherif Abu al-Amin, was killed in an Israeli attack on one of the established Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon. Several of his family members are also said to have been killed.

The refugee camp is located on the outskirts of the city of Tyre on the coast. The air raid was reported by state-owned Lebanese media and later confirmed by the Israeli military, which accuses Hamas leader Sherif of coordinating "terrorist activities" with Hezbollah.

"He was also responsible for Hamas' efforts to recruit operatives and acquire weapons in Lebanon," according to an Israeli statement.

UNRWA confirms employment

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva wrote earlier on Monday on X and accused Sherif of working with UNRWA, and wrote that "this case shows that there are major problems within UNRWA". The UN agency's spokesperson, Jonathan Fowler, confirms that Sherif was a UNRWA employee who was suspended without pay in March and investigated following allegations about his "political activities".

He was not open about his connection to the terrorist-designated group.

According to a Hamas statement, Sherif is hailed for his "educational and jihadist work" and is called a successful teacher and prominent principal.

During the intense Gaza War, Israel has carried out targeted attacks on Hamas leaders in the neighboring country to the north on several occasions – for example, in January when Saleh al-Aruri, vice chairman of Hamas' political bureau, was killed in an air raid on a building in Beirut.

Unusually central

On Monday, a multi-family house in the central parts of Beirut was also attacked. A drone attacked a specific apartment in the building.

In the early morning hours on Monday, a Palestinian secular left-wing guerrilla, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), announced that three of its members were killed in the attack.

A few hours later, Israel took responsibility for the attack and announced that two named PFLP leaders had been killed. The two men are also called terrorists.

Israel has not targeted an area as central in Beirut in the past year, instead attacking Hezbollah targets in the southern parts of the city.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Zelenskyj Urges Allies to Strengthen Sanctions on Russian Oil

Zelenskyj Urges Allies to Strengthen Sanctions on Russian Oil

Sudan Government Rejects Peace Plan Excluding Warring Parties

Sudan Government Rejects Peace Plan Excluding Warring Parties

Rubio Affirms US Support for Israel Amid Qatar Attack Concerns

Rubio Affirms US Support for Israel Amid Qatar Attack Concerns

Venezuela Accuses USA of Harassing Fishermen in Economic Zone

Venezuela Accuses USA of Harassing Fishermen in Economic Zone

Mother Admits to Killing Children Found in Suitcases in New Zealand

Mother Admits to Killing Children Found in Suitcases in New Zealand

Russian Drone Enters Romanian Airspace Amid Ukraine Conflict

Russian Drone Enters Romanian Airspace Amid Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian Drone Hits Major Russian Oil Refinery Causing Fire

Ukrainian Drone Hits Major Russian Oil Refinery Causing Fire

Poland Conducts Air Maneuver After Russian Airspace Violation

Poland Conducts Air Maneuver After Russian Airspace Violation

Taliban Seeks Normalized Relations with USA Amid Prisoner Exchange Talks

Taliban Seeks Normalized Relations with USA Amid Prisoner Exchange Talks

Gas Explosion in Madrid Injures at Least 25 People

Gas Explosion in Madrid Injures at Least 25 People

Is Africa Prepared for Its Rapidly Aging Population?

Is Africa Prepared for Its Rapidly Aging Population?

Sanctions on Russian Oil Could Benefit US, Says Expert

Sanctions on Russian Oil Could Benefit US, Says Expert

Musk Joins Right-Wing Extremist Rally in London via Video Link

Musk Joins Right-Wing Extremist Rally in London via Video Link

Trump Proposes New Sanctions if NATO Halts Russian Oil Imports

Trump Proposes New Sanctions if NATO Halts Russian Oil Imports

Mayor and 47 Officials Arrested in Istanbul Raid

Mayor and 47 Officials Arrested in Istanbul Raid

Children Among Casualties in Israeli Attacks on Gaza City

Children Among Casualties in Israeli Attacks on Gaza City

Air Strike in Myanmar Kills 19 Schoolchildren in Rakhine

Air Strike in Myanmar Kills 19 Schoolchildren in Rakhine

Over 200,000 Casualties in Gaza Conflict, Says Former Israeli Chief

Over 200,000 Casualties in Gaza Conflict, Says Former Israeli Chief

EPA Proposes Ending Emissions Reporting for Major Polluters

EPA Proposes Ending Emissions Reporting for Major Polluters

Epstein's Address Book Reveals Celebrity Connections and Secrets

Epstein's Address Book Reveals Celebrity Connections and Secrets