On the Run? Lawyers Can’t Find Bashar Masri After Hamas Lawsuit

Bashar Masri, a prominent Palestinian-American billionaire and entrepreneur based in Washington, D.C., has become the center of controversy following a federal lawsuit accusing him of aiding Hamas in the October 7 massacre that killed over 1,200 people and led to the abduction of more than 250 hostages.

The suit, filed in April 2025 by nearly 200 American families of victims in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that Masri and his companies, including the Palestine Development & Investment Company (PADICO), Palestine Real Estate Investment Company (PRICO), Palestinian Industrial Estate Development Company (PIEDCO), and Massar International, provided material support to Hamas by developing properties in Gaza that concealed terrorist infrastructure, such as attack tunnels, rocket storage and launch sites, and command centers.

Masri, 63, is a naturalized U.S. citizen known for founding Rawabi, the first planned Palestinian city in the West Bank, and for his roles in various development projects aimed at economic growth in Palestinian territories. He has also been involved in U.S. politics, advising the Trump administration on Middle East hostage negotiations through figures like Adam Boehler, and funding initiatives like the Rawabi Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) to support Palestinian students.

The lawsuit claims his Gaza projects, such as the Gaza Industrial Estate (GIE), Blue Beach Hotel, and Al Mashtal/Ayan Hotel, served dual purposes: appearing as legitimate economic developments while enabling Hamas operations.

For instance, the GIE, funded partly by international bodies like the World Bank and USAID, is accused of housing subterranean tunnels and solar panels that powered Hamas infrastructure, with renovations supervised by Hamas-linked figures like Dr. Muhamad Ziyara, the "dean" of Hamas's tunnel program.

The Blue Beach Hotel allegedly provided beach access for Hamas naval commandos, while the Al Mashtal Hotel hosted Hamas events and concealed rocket launches. Plaintiffs argue these actions constituted a "grand deception" that lulled Israeli intelligence into complacency, violating U.S. anti-terrorism laws like 18 U.S.C. § 2339B by providing material support through funding, safehouses, and services.

Shortly after the lawsuit's filing on April 7, 2025, Masri resigned from HKS's Dean's Council, a group of about 70 high-profile advisors to Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein, where he had served since 2014. An HKS spokesperson stated, “The lawsuit raises serious allegations that should be vetted and addressed through the legal process.” Masri's office denied the claims, asserting he “unequivocally opposes violence of any kind” and has never engaged in unlawful activity. The Rawabi Fellowship's future remains unclear.

In a court filing, lawyers requested alternative means, such as publishing the summons in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, noting Masri's awareness of the suit from his statement to the outlet. Efforts to serve him at his Washington, D.C., residence and other U.S. addresses failed, and attorneys believe he is in Palestinian-controlled territory, leading to social media claims he's "on the run" or evading justice. No independent confirmation of his exact location exists as of now, though he has historically been based in Judea and Samaria.

Posts on X (formerly Twitter) from accounts like @Osint613, @EYakoby, and @JewsFightBack have asked if an innocent man would "vanish."

No arrest warrant or formal evasion charges have been issued yet, but proceedings are continuing, with potential for damages if the allegations are proven.