Beersheba: An Israeli court sentenced on Tuesday Gaza The aid worker was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of multiple terrorism charges in a high-profile case in which an independent audit and investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Mohamed Al-Halabi, Gaza Director for International Christian Charities world Visionwas arrested in 2016 and charged with diverting tens of millions of dollars to an Islamic terrorist group Hamas who rules the region.
The trial and his lengthy custody have further strained relations between the two. Israel and humanitarian organizations that provide aid to Palestinians. The impact of sentencing on those relationships is likely to continue.
“This is unimaginable,” al-Halabi’s lawyer, Maher Hannah, said about the length of the sentence. “They insist that injustice will continue throughout the process.”
Al-Halabi and World Vision have both denied the allegations, and an independent audit in 2017 also found no evidence of Hamas’ support. Australiawhich was the largest single donor to World Vision’s humanitarian work in Gaza, reached a similar conclusion in its review.
World Vision said in a statement that the conviction was in stark contrast to the evidence and facts of the case.
“The arrest, the six-year trial, the unjust verdict and this sentence are symbols of actions that interfere with humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank,” the group said. “It has a chilling effect on the world vision and on other aid or development groups working to aid the Palestinians.”
Hannah said that al-Halabi intended to appeal against the country’s decision and sentence Supreme court,
Israeli officials have repeatedly said they have evidence that Hamas had infiltrated aid groups and was withdrawing funds from garrisons in need. then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Al-Halabi trumpeted the allegations in an online video shortly after his arrest.
Critics say Israel often relies on suspected informers. They allege that Israel condemns groups that provide aid or other aid to the Palestinians to help the Palestinians end their nearly 55-year military occupation of the land for a future state.
Israel says it supports the work of aid organisations, but must prevent donor funds from falling into the hands of armed groups such as Hamas that do not recognize it and attack its citizens.
Mohamed Al-Halabi, Gaza Director for International Christian Charities world Visionwas arrested in 2016 and charged with diverting tens of millions of dollars to an Islamic terrorist group Hamas who rules the region.
The trial and his lengthy custody have further strained relations between the two. Israel and humanitarian organizations that provide aid to Palestinians. The impact of sentencing on those relationships is likely to continue.
“This is unimaginable,” al-Halabi’s lawyer, Maher Hannah, said about the length of the sentence. “They insist that injustice will continue throughout the process.”
Al-Halabi and World Vision have both denied the allegations, and an independent audit in 2017 also found no evidence of Hamas’ support. Australiawhich was the largest single donor to World Vision’s humanitarian work in Gaza, reached a similar conclusion in its review.
World Vision said in a statement that the conviction was in stark contrast to the evidence and facts of the case.
“The arrest, the six-year trial, the unjust verdict and this sentence are symbols of actions that interfere with humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank,” the group said. “It has a chilling effect on the world vision and on other aid or development groups working to aid the Palestinians.”
Hannah said that al-Halabi intended to appeal against the country’s decision and sentence Supreme court,
Israeli officials have repeatedly said they have evidence that Hamas had infiltrated aid groups and was withdrawing funds from garrisons in need. then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Al-Halabi trumpeted the allegations in an online video shortly after his arrest.
Critics say Israel often relies on suspected informers. They allege that Israel condemns groups that provide aid or other aid to the Palestinians to help the Palestinians end their nearly 55-year military occupation of the land for a future state.
Israel says it supports the work of aid organisations, but must prevent donor funds from falling into the hands of armed groups such as Hamas that do not recognize it and attack its citizens.