A United Nations company has confirmed a person described by Israel because the chief of Hamas in Lebanon was a UN worker after he was killed in an Israeli strike.
The UN Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees within the Close to East (UNWRA) stated Fateh Al Sharif had been below investigation over his political actions and had been on “administrative leave” since March.
The Israeli army introduced on Monday that it had “eliminated” Sharif in a strike in Lebanon, accusing him of coordinating “terror activities” with members of Hezbollah.
Hamas stated Sharif was killed alongside together with his spouse, son, and daughter, in a strike that focused their home in a Palestinian refugee camp within the southern metropolis of Tyre within the early hours of Monday, Reuters reported.
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Each Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas, which relies in Gaza, are backed by Iran.
The 2 organisations are proscribed as terrorist teams by the UK and america.
Sharif “led the Hamas terrorist organization’s force build-up efforts in Lebanon and operated to advance Hamas’ interests in Lebanon, both politically and militarily”, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated in a press release.
Requested about claims that he labored for UNWRA, the company stated: “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.”
Israel will probably seize on the affirmation as additional proof of hyperlinks between the UN physique in Gaza and Hamas.
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Final 12 months, the Israeli authorities accused greater than a dozen of UNWRA’s Gaza workers of involvement within the 7 October atrocities.
That allegation prompted numerous international locations, together with the UK below the Conservatives, to droop funding to the company.
However in July this 12 months, the brand new Labour authorities reinstated funds.
Within the wake of Israel’s allegations, UNRWA sacked 10 workers, whereas the UN’s Workplace of Inner Oversight launched an investigation into the claims.
In April, the physique stated eight employees remained below investigation, with inquiries suspended in 4 of the circumstances due to inadequate proof.
It added it had additionally begun investigations into a further seven employees members, and 6 of these circumstances had been ongoing.
