Fatah Sharif Abu Al-Amin (Arabic: فتح شريف ابو الامين; also spelled Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin) was a Palestinian[1] who was the principal of the UNRWA-run 'Deir Yassin' school in Lebanon until his suspension in March 2024. He served as member of the movement’s leadership of Hamas in Lebanon.[2][3][4] He was killed in an Israeli Air Force strike as part of "Operation Northern Arrows," along with his wife and two children, in the Al-Bass refugee camp in Tyre district, southern Lebanon.[4]

Fatah Sharif
Native name
فتح شريف ابو الامين
BornGaza Strip
Died(2024-09-29)29 September 2024
Al-Bass refugee camp, Tyre, Lebanon
Cause of deathAssassination by airstrike
Allegiance Hamas

Biography

In March 2024, UNRWA in Lebanon announced his suspension from his position as a teacher for the agency due to what was described as a "violation of agency protocols" after he praised the 7 October attack[needs independent confirmation]. He was suspended for three months. Following his suspension, dozens of activists protested the decision in front of UNRWA offices in Beirut.[4][5][6]

According to the Israel Defense Forces, Sharif was "in charge of coordinating Hamas activities from Lebanon with elements of Hezbollah, and was also responsible for strengthening the organization's efforts in Lebanon in the field of recruiting agents and purchasing weapons". He also led efforts to "build Hamas' power in Lebanon and worked to promote Hamas' interests in the arena, both politically and militarily".[7][unreliable source?][needs independent confirmation]. Hamas in a press release confirmed that ‘Fatah Sahriv was the Hamas leader in Lebanon and a member of the movement's leadership abroad’, although there was no statement indicating military role.[8]

Southern Lebanon is the main area of operation for Hamas in the region, with its operatives responsible for most of the rocket fire targeting Nahariya and the Krayot regions.[9][unreliable source?][needs independent confirmation]

Death

On 29 September 2024, during the Israeli Air Force's "Operation Northern Arrows," he was killed, along with his wife and two children, in the Al-Bass refugee camp in Tyre district, southern Lebanon.[10][11] Hamas later confirmed his death.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Lebanon: Palestinian refugees go on general strike".
  2. ^ Halabi, Einav; Zitun, Yoav (30 September 2024). "Senior Hamas member and UNRWA staffer, killed in Tyre, Hamas says". Ynetnews. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Hamas commander in Lebanon eliminated in Israeli strike, terror group announces". Virtual Jerusalem. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "المنبر العربي للثقافة و الفنون يستهجن سياسة ادارة الاونروا". إضآءات. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  5. ^ "الأزمة مع "الأونروا" مفتوحة: فتح شريف لم يستقل". www.vdlnews.com. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  6. ^ دهشة, نجية. "بوادر أزمة متصاعدة بين الأونروا وقوى فلسطينية في لبنان". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  7. ^ "מפקד פצ"ן ומפקדי האוגדות קיימו אישור תוכניות; 188 התאמנו בסמוך לגבול". www.idf.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Hamas leader in Lebanon killed in air strike". 30 September 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  9. ^ "הבכיר שחוסל הלילה: יו"ר ארגון המורים של אונר"א ומפקד חמאס - בחדרי חרדים". www.bhol.co.il (in Hebrew). 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  10. ^ Ashkenazi, Avi (30 September 2024). "דיווחים על פיצוץ בניין בביירות; מפקד חמאס בלבנון חוסל בדרום המדינה". www.maariv.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Hamas says its leader in Lebanon killed in air strike". 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Hamas commander in Lebanon eliminated in Israeli strike, terror group announces". Israel National News. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.