Harvard Dean's Council Member Resigns Amid Controversial Lawsuit Linking Him to Hamas Activities

Harvard Dean’s Council Member Resigns Amid Controversial Lawsuit Linking Him to Hamas Activities

A member of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Dean’s Council has resigned following a lawsuit involving allegations of connections to Hamas. The civil suit was filed last week by nearly 200 family members of individuals killed in a terror attack on October 7, 2023, in Israel.

Details of the Lawsuit

The plaintiff in the case, Bashar Masri, a Palestinian American billionaire, faces accusations of aiding and abetting Hamas. The suit claims Masri assisted the militant group in constructing tunnels and rocket launch sites. Furthermore, it alleges he provided facilities for prominent Hamas leaders within his Gaza properties.

In light of these serious accusations, Masri announced his resignation from the council. The Kennedy School of Government confirmed his departure in an email to Fox News Digital on Thursday.

Masri’s Statement on the Allegations

“Following discussions with the Kennedy School of Government, Bashar Masri has stepped down from his role on the Dean’s Council while he seeks to dismiss the false allegations made against him,” his office stated.

The statement emphasized that Masri and his business affiliates never engaged in illegal activity nor offered support for violence. “Bashar Masri has devoted decades to development and humanitarian efforts. His work promoting regional peace and stability has garnered recognition from the United States and other concerned parties in the area. He firmly opposes all forms of violence,” it continued.

Contrasting Claims in the Lawsuit

Despite Masri’s assertions, the lawsuit presents a contrasting narrative. It alleges that Masri and companies he controls—including Palestine Development & Investment Company (PADICO), Palestine Real Estate Investment Company (PRICO), and Palestinian Industrial Estate Development Company (PIEDCO)—managed properties in Gaza under the guise of legitimate enterprises.

However, the lawsuit asserts that these properties were also utilized for Hamas’s military purposes, such as constructing and concealing attack tunnels, storing rockets, and harboring Hamas leadership and troops. The suit alleges that just before the October 7 attack, an individual closely associated with Hamas was appointed Chairman of PIEDCO.

Connections to Hamas Leadership

This individual, identified as Yahya Sinwar, has been noted as the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip since 2017. The lawsuit claims that he used Masri’s luxury seaside hotels to host significant Hamas events. The Israeli Defense Forces killed Sinwar during last year’s conflict in October.

Masri’s Business Ventures in Palestine

Masri is known for the $350 million Rawabi project aimed at establishing a modern industrial area in the West Bank. The lawsuit alleges that funding for this venture primarily came from a Qatari government-owned real estate investment firm.

In 2018, Masri established the Rawabi Fellowship for Leaders from Palestine at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. This program provides tuition, health insurance, and stipends for Palestinian graduate students enrolled at Harvard, as noted in the lawsuit.

Gaza Industrial Estate and Its Allegations

The lawsuit refers to the Gaza Industrial Estate (GIE) as the “crown jewel” of Masri’s developments, asserting that it received financial backing from sources including USAID, the United Nations, and the International Finance Corporation.

According to the legal complaint, Masri worked knowingly with senior Hamas figures to develop GIE, even to the point of engaging with the Hamas official overseeing the construction of their military-industrial capabilities in Gaza before the October terror attacks.

The Hidden Ties

While GIE marketed itself as a legitimate enterprise producing goods for everyday needs, the lawsuit accuses it of having deep connections to Hamas terrorism. Specifically, it claims Masri’s companies collaborated with Hamas to build intricate networks of subterranean tunnels, which were utilized to infiltrate Israel, mounting attacks against nearby communities and ambushing Israeli military forces.

The lawsuit contends that GIE played a role in probing Israel’s border defenses and assessing the military’s response strategies ahead of the attacks. There are also accusations that Hamas installed an anti-tank battery in one of GIE’s water towers, aimed directly at the border.