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NY Post: “Palestinian-American billionaire quits Harvard post after lawsuit claims he helped build Hamas terror tunnels, rocket launch sites”

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  • Bashar Masri, a Palestinian-American billionaire and developer, has resigned from the Dean’s Council at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
  • His resignation comes days after nearly 200 families of Oct. 7 attack victims filed a civil lawsuit in Washington, D.C., accusing him of “aiding and abetting” Hamas.
  • The lawsuit alleges Masri’s companies aided construction of tunnels and rocket launchers in Gaza, including at luxury hotels and an industrial estate near the Israeli border.
  • The Kennedy School acknowledged the lawsuit, stating it “raises serious allegations” that should be vetted through the legal process.
  • Masri chairs Massar International and PADICO and has been praised for building Rawabi, a modern city in the West Bank.
  • Plaintiffs claim U.S. and international funding intended for development projects was used to conceal Hamas terror infrastructure, including underground tunnels and rocket launch sites.
  • The complaint describes weapons facilities beneath or adjacent to Masri’s properties, including the Gaza Industrial Estate and Blue Beach Resort.
  • Photos in the complaint show Masri signing agreements with Hamas officials, including a 2022 solar project deal with Hamas’ Deputy Minister of Economy.
  • Al Mashtal (Ayan) Hotel and Blue Beach Resort allegedly had Hamas tunnel shafts directly under guest roomsand were visited by former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
  • The lawsuit asserts that Masri’s operations provided cover and legitimacy for Hamas, violating the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act.
  • Masri’s spokesperson called the lawsuit “baseless,” denying any support for violence or militancy.
  • Plaintiffs include families of slain hostages and victims, such as Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Itay Chen, and Israeli figures like Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Eyal Waldman.
  • Masri had previously advised U.S. officials on postwar Gaza plans and received funding from the U.S., UN, EU, and World Bank for development initiatives.
  • Despite a public image as a peacemaker, the lawsuit cites Masri’s 1980s involvement in the First Intifada and claims his companies worked with Hamas on subterranean military infrastructure.

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