Agencies-Gaza post
IOF sentences Gaza aid worker to 12 years imprisonment
An Israeli occupation court on Tuesday sentenced a charity Gaza aid worker to 12 years imprisonment, according to the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission.
Spokesperson for the Commission, Hassan Abed-Rabbu, said that the Beersheba region court in southern Israel sentenced World Vision’s Mohammed al-Halabi, who has been on trial for six years over “terror” financing charges based on secret evidence and an alleged coerced confession, to 12 years of imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the World Vision (WV) expressed in a press release “deep disappointment” over the charge.
“The 12-year sentence announced today in the trial of Mohammad El Halabi is deeply disappointing and in sharp contrast to the evidence and facts of the case,” WV reported.
The Israeli district court did not find El Halabi guilty of “assisting the enemy,” the most serious charge against him, according to his lawyer, who said that he would appeal the conviction at Israel’s high court. But in its 254-page classified ruling, the court finds El Halabi guilty of diverting funds from the international Christian charity World Vision, where he served as director of its Gaza office.
Multiple international audits have found no evidence that the father of five, hailed as a “humanitarian hero” by the United Nations before his arrest, diverted funds to armed groups in Gaza.
While WV reiterated its emphatic condemnation of “any and all acts of terrorism or support for such activities” and rejection of “any attempt to divert humanitarian resources or exploit the work of aid organisations operating anywhere”, it said that “we do not see evidence of these things in this case.”
“We support Mohammad’s intent to appeal the verdict and the sentence and call for a fair and transparent appeal process based on the facts of the case.”
“The arrest, six-year trial, unjust verdict and this sentence are emblematic of actions that hinder humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank. It adds to the chilling impact on World Vision and other aid or development groups working to assist Palestinians.”
It said that it was saddened that its work helping Gaza’s most vulnerable children has been disrupted for so long, and we hope to return to Gaza.
“We remain committed to improving the lives of vulnerable children in the region, and hope we will be able to advance our humanitarian work in the context of our longstanding cooperation with the relevant Israeli and Palestinian authorities.”
Source: Palestinian agency WAFA
