In a significant development at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, a member of the Dean's Council, Bashar Masri, has tendered his resignation.
This move comes after a lawsuit was filed against him by nearly 200 relatives of American victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on an Israeli concert.
As reported by Fox News, the lawsuit alleges that Masri, a Palestinian American billionaire, was complicit in "aiding and abetting" Hamas. The charges include assisting the terror group in constructing tunnels and rocket launch sites and providing top Hamas leaders with access to his facilities in Gaza.
In response to the allegations, Masri stepped down from his position at Harvard. The Kennedy School of Government confirmed his resignation via an email to Fox News Digital. "Following conversations with the Kennedy School of Government, Bashar Masri has stepped down from his role on the Dean's Council, while he seeks the dismissal of the false allegations made against him," stated Masri's office.
The statement further clarified that neither Masri nor any businesses associated with him have ever participated in illegal activities or supported violence and militancy. "Bashar Masri has been involved in development and humanitarian work for decades.
His continued efforts to promote regional peace and stability have been widely recognized by the United States and all concerned parties in the region. He unequivocally opposes violence of any kind," the statement read.
However, the lawsuit presents a contrasting narrative. It alleges that Masri and the companies he controls, including Palestine Development & Investment Company (PADICO), Palestine Real Estate Investment Company (PRICO), and Palestinian Industrial Estate Development Company (PIEDCO), developed and operated prime properties in Gaza under the guise of legitimate purposes.
The lawsuit states, "But in reality, they were also used to construct and conceal Hamass attack tunnels, store and launch its rockets at Israel, host Hamas leadership and foot soldiers, train Hamas naval commandosand even to produce electricity for Hamas's attack tunnel infrastructure." It further alleges that Masri installed an individual with close ties to Hamas as Chairman of PIEDCO just before the October 7 attack.
The lawsuit identifies this leader as Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip since 2017, who allegedly used Masri's luxury seaside hotels to host Hamas events. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) killed Sinwar in October last year.
Masri is known for his $350 million Rawabi project, aimed at creating the first modern industrial area in the West Bank. The lawsuit alleges that this project was primarily funded by a Qatari state-owned real estate investment firm.
The lawsuit also mentions the Gaza Industrial Estate (GIE), termed as the "crown jewel" of Masri's developments. It alleges that the GIE was financed through Masri's companies with funds from USAID, the United Nations, the European Union, and more recently, the International Finance Company (IFC) in Washington.
The lawsuit claims that while GIE appeared to be a legitimate company manufacturing products for ordinary people, it was closely tied to Hamas terror. It alleges that Masri and his companies collaborated with Hamas to construct an elaborate subterranean attack tunnel network used by Hamas to infiltrate Israel.
The lawsuit further alleges that GIE was used to "probe the border fence and test the IDFs response times and countermeasures in the lead up to the October 7 Attack," and that "Hamas even installed an anti-tank battery in one of the GIEs water towers facing the border."
In response to these allegations, Masri's office has labeled the complaint as "baseless." They stated, "He was shocked to learn through the media that a baseless complaint was filed today referring to false allegations against him and certain businesses he is associated with. Neither he nor those entities have ever engaged in unlawful activity or provided support for violence and militancy."
As the lawsuit unfolds, it remains to be seen how these allegations will impact Masri's reputation and his future endeavors, particularly in the realm of development and humanitarian work. The case also raises questions about the extent of due diligence conducted by prestigious institutions like Harvard University when associating with individuals of significant influence and wealth.
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