Adrian
BASHAR MASRI, a Palestinian-American billionaire and member of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Dean’s Council, has resigned from his position following a lawsuit filed by nearly 200 family members of victims killed in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses Masri of aiding and abetting Hamas by facilitating the construction of tunnels and rocket launch sites, as well as allowing Hamas leaders to use his properties in Gaza.
The Harvard Kennedy School confirmed Masri’s resignation in an email to Fox News Digital on Thursday. In a statement, Masri’s office expressed his commitment to dismissing the “false allegations” and emphasized his long-standing dedication to development and humanitarian work in the region. The statement asserted that neither Masri nor his associated businesses have ever engaged in unlawful activities or supported violence. It also highlighted his efforts to promote peace and stability, which have been recognized by the United States and regional stakeholders.
The lawsuit, however, paints a starkly different picture. It alleges that Masri and companies under his control—including Palestine Development & Investment Company (PADICO), Palestine Real Estate Investment Company (PRICO), and Palestinian Industrial Estate Development Company (PIEDCO)—developed properties in Gaza that were used for both legitimate purposes and Hamas operations. These operations reportedly included constructing attack tunnels, storing and launching rockets, hosting Hamas leaders and operatives, and even producing electricity for Hamas’s infrastructure.
The lawsuit also claims that Masri appointed YAHYA SINWAR, a senior Hamas leader, as Chairman of PIEDCO shortly before the October 7 attack. Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in October 2023, allegedly used Masri’s luxury seaside hotels for public and private Hamas events.
Masri is widely known for his $350 million Rawabi project in the West Bank, funded in part by a Qatari state-owned real estate firm. He also established the Harvard Kennedy School’s Rawabi Fellowship for Leaders from Palestine, which supports Palestinian graduate students with tuition, health insurance, and stipends. Additionally, the Gaza Industrial Estate (GIE), described as the “crown jewel” of Masri’s developments, allegedly collaborated with Hamas in constructing subterranean attack tunnels and testing IDF response times before the October 7 attack.
READ THE LAWSUIT – APP USERS, CLICK HERE.
Masri’s office has dismissed the lawsuit as “baseless,” stating that he was “shocked to learn through the media” about the allegations. The complaint remains under scrutiny as legal proceedings unfold.
Sources:
Fox News
Harvard University
