Sherif was suspended from his position at UNRWA in March, following allegations related to his political activities, but he had not been dismissed, Associated Press reports.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has confirmed the death of Fateh Sherif, a Hamas leader in Lebanon, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday at the al-Bass refugee camp in Tyre.
Sherif was suspended from his position at UNRWA in March, following allegations related to his political activities, but he had not been dismissed, Associated Press reports.
"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," an UNRWA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
His suspension had previously led to widespread protests and strikes by teachers in Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) and Israeli Security Agency (ISA) confirmed Sherif’s role in coordinating Hamas' terror activities with Hezbollah in Lebanon. "He was responsible for Hamas’ efforts in Lebanon to recruit operatives and acquire weapons," their joint statement read.
"He led the Hamas terrorist organization's force build-up efforts in Lebanon and operated to advance Hamas' interests in Lebanon, both politically and militarily."
UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer criticized UNRWA for failing to act sooner. "Even as school principal al-Sharif openly incited terrorism on social media for over a decade, UNRWA did nothing.
They failed to fire or even condemn their school principal for being a Hamas terror chief," Neuer said.
Sherif's killing coincided with reports of Israeli airstrikes killing three leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Beirut. Israeli officials have stated that they will continue operations against threats to their civilians.
Recent Israeli strikes have escalated, targeting militant groups across the region, with over 1,000 people reportedly killed in Lebanon as the conflict intensifies.
Iran has vowed retaliation, while President Biden has called for efforts to avoid a full-scale war in the Middle East.