### Hamas Commander Killed in Lebanon Linked to Suspended UNRWA Employee

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, confirmed on Monday the death of Fatah Sharif, a top Hamas commander, during an airstrike in Lebanon. Sharif, one of the employees of UNRWA, had already been suspended since March over allegations of his ties to the militant group.

This incident is expected to increase the scrutiny on UNRWA, which is already grappling with an $80 million funding deficit this year. Critics have long argued that the agency hasn't done enough to eliminate Hamas militants from its ranks. The UN's internal watchdog has been conducting an investigation into UNRWA since Israel accused 12 of its staff members of participating in an attack on Israel on October 7, where militants killed 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others. As a result of these allegations, over a dozen donor countries suspended their financial contributions, initially creating a cash shortfall of about $450 million. Although most donor countries have since resumed their funding, the United States is yet to follow suit.

Sharif was killed along with his wife, son, and daughter in an airstrike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in Tyre, confirmed by the Israeli military. Hamas noted his death and identified him as a significant figure within their ranks. Sharif had not publicly acknowledged his affiliation with Hamas and its armed wing.

Israel has previously claimed that UNRWA is compromised by the presence of Hamas militants. On social media, Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva emphasized Sharif's dual role as both a Hamas commander and the principal of a UNRWA-affiliated teachers' association in Lebanon. They criticized the agency's hiring practices, asserting that this example indicates substantial flaws in their due diligence processes.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini acknowledged learning of Sharif’s alleged ties to Hamas in March and suspended him pending an investigation. Lazzarini said he was unaware of Sharif's commander status until his death. Despite the suspension, the internal investigation continued as per the agency's adherence to due process and the rule of law.

Lazzarini also received a list from Israeli authorities naming about 100 individuals allegedly linked to Hamas. However, Israeli officials did not provide further information, hindering UNRWA’s ability to thoroughly investigate these claims.

Hamas, in their statement, praised Sharif for his "educational and jihadist work," describing him as an "outstanding principal" for many Palestinian refugee generations. Following Sharif's suspension, the UNRWA teachers' union and other Palestinian groups protested, asserting that the suspension was due to his political views.

UNRWA operates with a staff of 32,000 across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestinian territories, including 13,000 in Gaza, delivering essential services like education and healthcare to millions. The agency has suffered considerable losses in Gaza, with 223 staffers killed during the recent conflict, marking the highest toll ever recorded for UN employees in a single conflict. The ongoing conflict has resulted in 41,615 deaths in Gaza, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.