B’nai B’rith International decries the naming of an elementary school in Gaza—reported to have been built by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)—after notorious terrorist Adnan al-Ghoul, one of Hamas’ senior operatives.

On July 8, at the official opening ceremony of the school, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya praised al-Ghoul for having been a top-ranking jihadist who specialized in the preparation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and for developing the Qassam rocket system for Hamas.

“Hamas’ and other Palestinian groups’ practice of glorifying terrorists teaches the next generation that these are role models whose paths they should follow,” said B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs. “The Palestinian practice of naming institutions after terrorists is intolerably common and irresponsible, and it should be stopped.”

Al-Ghoul was behind bombings in Israel in the 1990s that killed more than 30 Israelis.

“Once again, a division of the U.N.—in this case an agency meant to help poor and developing countries—has found itself complicit with those seeking not peace, but never-ending atrocities,” said B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin. “If the UNDP truly wants to assist in local development, it should forcefully deplore and disassociate from terrorists bent on destroying the State of Israel.”