Hamas Commander Killed by Israel Was a UN Employee: Can the UN Be Trusted?

A shocking revelation has emerged that a top Hamas commander in Lebanon, killed in an Israeli airstrike, was also an employee of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Fatah Sharif, who was discreet about his ties to Hamas, was targeted by Israel in a strike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in Tyre, Lebanon, where he lived with his family. Sharif had been placed on administrative leave by UNRWA in March, as reported by the Associated Press, but remained an employee while under investigation for alleged political activities.

This disturbing incident raises a critical question: Can the UN be trusted if its own employees are part of terror organizations?

UNRWA Under Scrutiny

Sharif, who had served as the head of the UNRWA Teachers Association in Lebanon, was under investigation by the UN agency for his links to Hamas. Critics argue that this case highlights a deeper issue within the UN’s ranks and calls into question the organization’s impartiality. If the very people entrusted with humanitarian duties are also operating within terror networks, how can anyone trust the UN to act neutrally in conflict zones?

Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva underscored this concern, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that Sharif’s dual roles in Hamas and UNRWA reveal a “deep problem” with how the UN vets its employees. Critics of UNRWA have long warned of Hamas’s infiltration into the agency, and Sharif’s case serves as an alarming example.

A Breach of Trust?

The United Nations, tasked with promoting peace and providing humanitarian aid, is now facing a crisis of credibility. If its employees are found to be part of terrorist organizations, how can the global community trust the UN’s claims of neutrality and impartiality in conflict zones?

UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler confirmed that Sharif had been placed on leave without pay after the agency received allegations of his political activities. However, this action did little to prevent the ongoing involvement of a Hamas militant in a senior UNRWA role. Many are now asking why it took so long for UNRWA to act and whether this signals broader systemic issues within the agency.

Calls for Accountability

The revelation of Sharif’s Hamas ties has triggered renewed demands for a thorough review of UNRWA’s operations, particularly its hiring practices in regions where militant groups are known to operate. How can the UN ensure impartiality if it continues to employ individuals with terrorist affiliations?

As Israel continues to defend itself against Hamas, it is crucial that the international community takes a hard look at how organizations like UNRWA may be exploited by those intent on promoting violence. For many, the trust in the UN has been severely shaken.

If the UN can’t ensure that its own staff are free of ties to terrorist organizations, how can it be trusted to mediate in the most sensitive conflicts?

This revelation should serve as a wake-up call for reforms within the United Nations and its agencies. Without stricter vetting processes and more transparency, the credibility of the UN’s peacekeeping and humanitarian missions is at serious risk.