The billionaire designer and Rawabi city creator states he opposes all violence and will look for termination of the charges in court
Households of American victims eliminated in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 have actually submitted a civil suit in a United States federal court versus Palestinian American billionaire Bashar Masri. The problem implicates Masri of assisting Hamas establish the tunnel facilities utilized in the attack, which eliminated more than 1,200 individuals– consisting of 46 Americans– and led to the kidnapping of over 250 captives.
Submitted under the United States Anti-Terrorism Act, the suit declares that Masri, a naturalized United States resident and popular organization figure, intentionally allowed Hamas to abuse worldwide advancement financing, consisting of American taxpayer cash. According to the complainants, tasks such as the Gaza Industrial Estate (GIE)– initially developed with United States Firm for International Advancement assistance– were repurposed by Hamas to hide tunnels that assisted in cross-border attacks on Israeli civilians.
Masri is the chairman of the Palestine Advancement and Investment Firm (PADICO) and the CEO of Massar International. He is best understood for leading Rawabi, the West Bank’s very first scheduled city, and for releasing the Siraj Fund, a $90 million equity fund for Palestinian start-ups and small companies. Through these endeavors, he has actually cultivated an image as a modernizer and financial bridge-builder in Palestinian society.
However the suit paints a starkly various picture. According to the problem, Masri enabled Hamas to utilize the GIE as a front for its tunnel-building operations and commanded a 2022 finalizing event with a senior Hamas authorities, Abdel Fattah Zrai’, to broaden operations at the website. Zrai’ is declared to be part of Hamas’ weapons production department.
The fear tunnels that played a main function in the October 7 massacre were not simply reconstructed– they were powered and safeguarded by worldwide advancement tasks that were pirated by Hamas, with the cooperation of Bashar Masri
” The fear tunnels that played a main function in the October 7 massacre were not simply reconstructed– they were powered and safeguarded by worldwide advancement tasks that were pirated by Hamas, with the cooperation of Bashar Masri,” stated Gary M. Osen, handling partner at Osen LLC, among 4 law office representing the complainants.
The suit likewise declares that PADICO-owned homes in Gaza, such as the al-Mashal Hotel, were utilized by Hamas management for preparing conferences and diplomatic engagements, consisting of gos to from foreign dignitaries. These organizations are referred to as “double usage” in the problem– running openly as industrial locations while supposedly serving Hamas’ military and propaganda efforts behind the scenes.
Masri has actually not talked about the claims in public looks, and no criminal charges have actually been submitted. However his workplace provided a declaration reacting to the suit:
He will look for the termination of these incorrect claims in court
” Bashar Masri is an effective and reputable Palestinian American business owner and magnate.
” He was surprised to find out through the media that an unwarranted problem was submitted today describing incorrect claims versus him and specific organizations he is connected with. Neither he nor those entities have actually ever participated in illegal activity or supplied assistance for violence and militancy.
” Bashar Masri has actually been associated with advancement and humanitarian work for the previous years. His continued efforts to promote local peace and stability have actually been extensively acknowledged by the United States and all worried celebrations in the area. He unquestionably opposes violence of any kind.
” He will look for the termination of these incorrect claims in court.”
Beyond his organization qualifications, Masri has actually long been associated with more comprehensive local financial tasks. Massar International, his flagship holding business, has actually handled endeavors in Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, and Serbia, with a concentrate on realty, innovation, and monetary services. His vision for Rawabi– a city that has actually currently housed thousands and produced countless tasks– has actually drawn assistance from United States authorities and some Israeli business, regardless of criticism from pro-Palestinian activists for his cooperation with Israel.
Masri’s efforts to engage with both Israeli and worldwide partners have actually likewise stimulated political debate. He has actually voiced assistance for Arab nations that have actually stabilized relations with Israel, recommending those ties might benefit Palestinians. At the very same time, he has actually slammed both Israeli profession policies and what he calls an absence of effort from Palestinian management.
While Masri has actually never ever held political workplace, his name appeared in diplomatic reporting early this year due to his reported advisory function to Adam Boehler, the unique governmental envoy for captive affairs designated by President Donald Trump in December 2024. According to Israeli media, Masri recommended Boehler throughout settlements to protect the release of captives kept in Gaza.
Boehler made headings in January 2025 after holding direct talks with Hamas agents in Qatar– an amazing action for a United States envoy. His method rapidly ended up being questionable, especially after a string of public interviews in which he appeared to minimize the danger presented by Hamas. In one interview, Boehler explained Hamas authorities as “quite good guys,” later on insisting he had actually been misconstrued. In another, he described Israeli captives as “detainees” and Palestinian detainees– a few of them founded guilty of mass murder– as “captives.”
Continued his language, Boehler informed CNN that his objective had actually been “to relate to the human aspects” of the Hamas management. Dealing with installing reaction, he provided an explanation on social networks, composing in uppercase that “Hamas is a terrorist company that has actually killed countless innocent individuals. They are BY MEANING BAD individuals.”
Days later on, Boehler was gotten rid of from his function in the direct settlements, though he continued to support a parallel track led by Trump ally Steve Witkoff. In March, Boehler withdrew his official election as unique envoy, though the White Home stated he would continue helping on captive affairs as an unique civil servant.
The Palestinian American entrepreneur’s supposed participation with Boehler’s mediation efforts includes another layer to the suit, which argues that Masri’s impact and organization network supplied Hamas with cover and resources. The complainants state they hope the case will expose how help and financial investment programs were made use of by Hamas with assistance from partners embedded in advancement and industrial sectors.
Masri’s household has actually long played a popular function in Palestinian affairs. He is the nephew of entrepreneur Munib al-Masri, a close confidant of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and the great-nephew of Sabih al-Masri, a leading figure in Jordanian organization. He has actually been called among Fortune publication’s “World’s 50 Biggest Leaders” and rests on the board of Harvard University’s Kennedy School.
The suit likewise names facilities tasks backed by the World Bank’s International Financing Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Financial Investment Warranty Firm (MIGA), which supposedly supplied power to Hamas’ tunnel system. Both IFC and MIGA are moneyed in part by the United States and other donor nations.
The complainants’ legal group consists of Osen LLC, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP, and Motley Rice LLC– companies understood for prosecuting terrorism-related civil fits. They argue that Masri’s business intentionally supplied product assistance to Hamas, which has actually been designated a Foreign Terrorist Company by the United States State Department given that 1997.
This is an establishing story.