UNRWA School Principal Identified as Hamas Commander Killed in Lebanon

In a significant blow to Hamas, the Israeli Air Force eliminated a senior commander, Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin, in a targeted airstrike in southern Lebanon. Sherif, who played a key role in coordinating Hamas' terror activities with Hezbollah, was killed along with several family members in the Tyre region.

The joint announcement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) detailed Sherif’s involvement in recruiting operatives, acquiring weapons, and orchestrating attacks against Israel from Lebanon. He was responsible for much of the rocket fire targeting Israeli towns like Nahariya and areas north of Haifa.

Sherif’s death highlights the complex reality of terror networks in Lebanon. While leading Hamas’s military operations in the region, Sherif was also employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). He served as the principal of the Deir Yassin Secondary School in El-Buss and headed the UNRWA teachers’ union in Lebanon, which oversees 39,000 students in 65 schools.

Earlier this year, UN Watch exposed Sherif’s dual role, noting that he openly praised Hamas terrorism. His suspension by UNRWA in March for three months did little to curb his influence, and protests erupted outside the agency’s offices in Beirut following the suspension. Despite calls for his dismissal, Sherif remained in his position until his death.

In a statement, the IDF emphasized the strategic importance of eliminating Sherif, saying, “He led Hamas’ force build-up efforts in Lebanon and advanced Hamas’ interests both politically and militarily.” His connection with Hezbollah operatives underscores the broader regional threat posed by Iranian-backed groups operating on Israel’s northern front.

Media reports indicate that Sherif, along with his wife, son, and daughter, were killed in the El-Buss refugee camp near Tyre during the Israeli strike. This area, according to Ynet, has long been a hub for Hamas operations, where militants have launched repeated rocket attacks against northern Israeli communities.

The airstrike that killed Sherif coincided with other Israeli military actions targeting terror groups in Lebanon. On the same day, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) confirmed that three of its operatives were killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut. These strikes signal a shift in Israeli strategy, as they reached beyond Hezbollah’s traditional stronghold in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district and into the city center.

The IDF has not officially confirmed its involvement in these strikes, but military operations have intensified across Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and other militant groups. Israeli forces have been actively responding to rocket fire from Hezbollah and Hamas, striking terror sites in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and intercepting aerial threats entering Israeli territory.

As tensions escalate, Israel remains clear on the conditions for a potential ceasefire with Hezbollah. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has reiterated that enforcing U.N. Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament and withdrawal from southern Lebanon, is the only acceptable path to peace. Katz also emphasized that the recent assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut was a justified counter-terrorism measure, preventing future attacks on Israel.

Sherif’s death is another reminder of the deeply entrenched terror infrastructure in Lebanon, much of which operates under the guise of humanitarian work. His dual role as a Hamas commander and UNRWA school principal exposes the challenge of distinguishing between civilian and military actors in the region.

Israel’s actions, while part of its broader defense strategy, underscore the continuing struggle to secure its borders from the constant threat of terror groups that seek its destruction. As the conflict continues, Israel remains committed to defending its citizens and eliminating the terrorist networks that operate on its doorstep.

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