Verdict in controversial World Vision corruption case due within months

Muhammad El Halabi has rejected charges by Shin Bet that he diverted money to allegedly assist Hamas

THE BEERSHEBA DISTRICT Court hearing the case of a World Vision official allegedly assisting Hamas may issue its verdict in the next month or so after a five-year saga, with the International Criminal Court and global media watching carefully.

Muhammad el-Halabi has vehemently denied the charges and accused the prosecution and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) of manufacturing them, coercing a confession to undermine humanitarian organizations in Gaza and dragging out the case.

To date, only the defendant has been unloading on the prosecution, with the state refraining from responding publicly due to concerns of revealing classified intelligence.

Halabi was indicted in August 2016 for smuggling $7.2 million a year to Hamas for buying weapons and building attack tunnels. The funds were supposed to have been used by World Vision for food, humanitarian assistance and aid programs for disabled children.

Neither World Vision nor an Australian government audit found the wrongdoing allegedly uncovered by the Shin Bet.

All of this occurs as Israel is trying to convince the ICC and countries in Europe that its legal system is legitimate and fair to avoid war-crimes trials.

FULL STORY Verdict in World Vision case due within months (Jerusalem Post)

Has a lone Palestinian aid worker been falsely accused of the biggest aid money heist in history? (Guardian)
Mohammed El Halabi is accused of stealing relief money and giving it to Hamas for their war effort against Israel. But five years on, the evidence against him looks seriously flawed