Bashar Masri resigns over funding Hamas allegations
- Bashar Masri resigned from his role on Harvard's dean's council amid a lawsuit alleging his funding of Hamas activities.
- The lawsuit accuses him of using USAID for funneling funds to Hamas and developing properties that facilitated the group's militant operations.
- The allegations have prompted a legal review of Masri's actions and raise serious concerns about accountability related to funding in conflict regions.
In 2021, following Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Walls, Bashar Masri, a Palestinian billionaire, funded the Gaza Industrial Estate. Recently, he faced serious allegations as a lawsuit was filed by relatives of victims of the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023. This lawsuit, undertaken by four U.S. law firms, claims that Masri collaborated with Hamas in developing commercial properties that concealed infrastructure for the group's extensive tunnel system. It aims to hold him accountable under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Masri’s involvement with Hamas is further stressed by allegations that he used the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and various Gaza development projects to redirect funds to the group. The lawsuit alleges that he knowingly supported the construction of properties linked to Hamas, including the Al Mashtal Hotel, identified by the Israel Defense Forces as a Hamas rocket launch site. His office vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them as baseless. Moreover, reports indicate that Masri was involved in providing guidance and private travel to Adam Boehler, a former U.S. presidential envoy, during negotiations with Hamas in March. This intensified scrutiny around his dealings and contributions in Gaza, raising questions regarding his business decisions and possible cooperation with terror entities. The implications of these allegations have sparked significant discourse regarding funding and development initiatives in conflict zones, as the lawsuit claims it seeks redress for the families of those lost in the October attacks. The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard acknowledged the seriousness of the claims; however, the exact contours of Masri’s alleged activities and the legal ramifications remain to be seen as the matter progresses through the judicial system.