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| Israel Charges Palestinian Employee of Aid Group With Funneling Funds to Hamas | Israel Charges Palestinian Employee of Aid Group With Funneling Funds to Hamas |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| ASHKELON, Israel — The Palestinian manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision, a major Christian aid organization, was charged by Israeli prosecutors on Thursday with infiltrating the charity on behalf of Hamas and funneling about $43 million in the group’s funds over the past six years to the military wing of the Islamic militant group. | ASHKELON, Israel — The Palestinian manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision, a major Christian aid organization, was charged by Israeli prosecutors on Thursday with infiltrating the charity on behalf of Hamas and funneling about $43 million in the group’s funds over the past six years to the military wing of the Islamic militant group. |
| While neither the World Vision employee, Mohammad El Halabi, nor the aid group have had a chance to review the evidence and respond to specific charges, the allegations cast a cloud over the operations of non-governmental organizations in Gaza. | While neither the World Vision employee, Mohammad El Halabi, nor the aid group have had a chance to review the evidence and respond to specific charges, the allegations cast a cloud over the operations of non-governmental organizations in Gaza. |
| Mr. Halabi was arrested on June 15 at the Erez crossing point between Israel and Gaza, the territory controlled by Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union. | Mr. Halabi was arrested on June 15 at the Erez crossing point between Israel and Gaza, the territory controlled by Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union. |
| A senior official with Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with his agency’s rules, said that Mr. Halabi was recruited by Hamas’s military wing in 2004 and was instructed to infiltrate World Vision and to try to reach an influential position. | A senior official with Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with his agency’s rules, said that Mr. Halabi was recruited by Hamas’s military wing in 2004 and was instructed to infiltrate World Vision and to try to reach an influential position. |
| Briefing reporters on Thursday in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, the official said that Mr. Halabi became the manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision in 2010 and had subsequently transferred about 60 percent of World Vision’s annual budget for Gaza to Hamas. | Briefing reporters on Thursday in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, the official said that Mr. Halabi became the manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision in 2010 and had subsequently transferred about 60 percent of World Vision’s annual budget for Gaza to Hamas. |
| The official said that some of the money had been used by Hamas militants to dig cross-border tunnels for the purpose of carrying out attacks in Israeli territory. Donations were also used to build a Hamas military base, and 2,500 food packages meant for needy families in Gaza were transferred to Hamas battalions, the official added. | The official said that some of the money had been used by Hamas militants to dig cross-border tunnels for the purpose of carrying out attacks in Israeli territory. Donations were also used to build a Hamas military base, and 2,500 food packages meant for needy families in Gaza were transferred to Hamas battalions, the official added. |
| In addition, Mr. Halabi is accused of having initiated a greenhouse project designed to hide tunnel work. A project for the rehabilitation of fishermen was, in practice, used to provide motor boats and diving suits for Hamas’s military marine unit, the Israeli authorities said. The allegations could not be independently verified. | |
| The Shin Bet official said that officers raided the organization’s offices in East Jerusalem, emphasizing that there was no evidence from the investigation and interrogation of Mr. Halabi that World Vision had been aware of the misuse of its funds in Gaza. | The Shin Bet official said that officers raided the organization’s offices in East Jerusalem, emphasizing that there was no evidence from the investigation and interrogation of Mr. Halabi that World Vision had been aware of the misuse of its funds in Gaza. |
| World Vision said in a statement on Thursday that “we have no reason to believe the allegations are true” based on the available information, and stressed that there was no suggestion the organization had been complicit in any diversion of funds. | World Vision said in a statement on Thursday that “we have no reason to believe the allegations are true” based on the available information, and stressed that there was no suggestion the organization had been complicit in any diversion of funds. |
| Tim Costello, the chief executive of World Vision Australia, which has been deeply involved in the Gaza project, said his organization was nevertheless “very worried” about the impact of the accusations on its ability to raise funds and work. | Tim Costello, the chief executive of World Vision Australia, which has been deeply involved in the Gaza project, said his organization was nevertheless “very worried” about the impact of the accusations on its ability to raise funds and work. |
| “We are profoundly shocked by these allegations,” Mr. Costello said. “We want to get to the bottom of this, we want the truth.” | “We are profoundly shocked by these allegations,” Mr. Costello said. “We want to get to the bottom of this, we want the truth.” |
| Mr. Costello said he did not think it was appropriate for the Israeli authorities to publicly accuse Mr. Halabi and World Vision of the diversion before they had a chance to review the evidence. He added that Mr. Halabi was prevented from consulting a lawyer for the first 25 days of his detention. | Mr. Costello said he did not think it was appropriate for the Israeli authorities to publicly accuse Mr. Halabi and World Vision of the diversion before they had a chance to review the evidence. He added that Mr. Halabi was prevented from consulting a lawyer for the first 25 days of his detention. |
| “We just really want a fair process, where Mohammad, once charged, gets to present his side, because we want to know the truth about this,” he said. “The truth comes out when you hear both sides.” | “We just really want a fair process, where Mohammad, once charged, gets to present his side, because we want to know the truth about this,” he said. “The truth comes out when you hear both sides.” |
| Mr. Costello said much of the organization’s work in Gaza was providing “safe places” for children to deal with the trauma of repeated war, as well as agricultural projects. The budgets came from World Vision’s offices in the United States, Australia and Britain, and from contributions through the Australian and British government. | Mr. Costello said much of the organization’s work in Gaza was providing “safe places” for children to deal with the trauma of repeated war, as well as agricultural projects. The budgets came from World Vision’s offices in the United States, Australia and Britain, and from contributions through the Australian and British government. |
| Hamas representatives were quick to dismiss the Israeli accusations, saying they had no faith in confessions obtained by Israeli intelligence officials, while maintaining that Palestinians were legitimately allowed to use all means to defend themselves. | Hamas representatives were quick to dismiss the Israeli accusations, saying they had no faith in confessions obtained by Israeli intelligence officials, while maintaining that Palestinians were legitimately allowed to use all means to defend themselves. |
| “We do not trust the occupation, nor the information coming from the occupation,” said Yehia Mousa, a Hamas legislator in Gaza, referring to Israel. “The occupation employs false stories and spreads them.” | “We do not trust the occupation, nor the information coming from the occupation,” said Yehia Mousa, a Hamas legislator in Gaza, referring to Israel. “The occupation employs false stories and spreads them.” |
| Israel withdrew its forces and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but continues to strictly control movement in and out of the Palestinian enclave, with the help of Egypt. | Israel withdrew its forces and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but continues to strictly control movement in and out of the Palestinian enclave, with the help of Egypt. |
| The Shin Bet official said that while the investigation did not implicate World Vision in the purported scheme to divert funds, it did reveal an abysmal lack of monitoring and supervision by the organization of its donations and projects. | The Shin Bet official said that while the investigation did not implicate World Vision in the purported scheme to divert funds, it did reveal an abysmal lack of monitoring and supervision by the organization of its donations and projects. |
| “Hamas stole tens of millions of dollars from disabled and poor Palestinian children to build a war machine,” said David Keyes, a spokesman for the Israeli government. “That tells you everything you need to know about that terrorist organization.” | “Hamas stole tens of millions of dollars from disabled and poor Palestinian children to build a war machine,” said David Keyes, a spokesman for the Israeli government. “That tells you everything you need to know about that terrorist organization.” |
| Israeli officials have raised suspicions before about the Palestinian employees of aid organizations, saying some sympathized with Hamas. Shin Bet said its investigation of Mr. Halabi had pointed to additional figures in the Gaza Strip who exploited their work in humanitarian aid organizations and United Nations institutions on behalf of Hamas. But the agency had found nothing previously on the scale of the deception Mr. Halabi is accused of, which the Shin Bet official described as an “extraordinary episode.” | |
| Mr. Halabi appeared to command respect in the humanitarian aid world, who said he had dedicated his life to helping children after seeing the devastating impact of the conflicts in Gaza. | Mr. Halabi appeared to command respect in the humanitarian aid world, who said he had dedicated his life to helping children after seeing the devastating impact of the conflicts in Gaza. |
| In an interview published on World Vision’s website, Mr. Halabi said he found the most rewarding aspect of his work was when “we manage to restore the smiles of children who are severely traumatized by the devastating bombs which killed part or all of their families.” | In an interview published on World Vision’s website, Mr. Halabi said he found the most rewarding aspect of his work was when “we manage to restore the smiles of children who are severely traumatized by the devastating bombs which killed part or all of their families.” |
| In a separate interview, he said he himself had lost eight relatives to airstrikes during the 2014 Gaza summer war with Israel. One of those relatives was pregnant, he said, and doctors aborted her child in a failed effort to save her life. | In a separate interview, he said he himself had lost eight relatives to airstrikes during the 2014 Gaza summer war with Israel. One of those relatives was pregnant, he said, and doctors aborted her child in a failed effort to save her life. |
| World Vision has said that its donors sponsored 4.1 million children around the world last year, providing about $1.2 billion in funds. The current recipients include about 40,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. | World Vision has said that its donors sponsored 4.1 million children around the world last year, providing about $1.2 billion in funds. The current recipients include about 40,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. |
| The organization has used a sponsor-a-child fund-raising model for five decades, to play on the power of personalization, although most of the money is used to finance projects in the child’s community rather than going directly to the child or the child’s family. | The organization has used a sponsor-a-child fund-raising model for five decades, to play on the power of personalization, although most of the money is used to finance projects in the child’s community rather than going directly to the child or the child’s family. |
| In the West Bank village of Husan, for example, the organization was said to have spent about $1.5 million from 1996 to 2006, a former employee said, helping to dig wells, build greenhouses, fix roads, prepare land for planting and repair fences. The group built a community center and outfitted the four-story building that houses the village council. | In the West Bank village of Husan, for example, the organization was said to have spent about $1.5 million from 1996 to 2006, a former employee said, helping to dig wells, build greenhouses, fix roads, prepare land for planting and repair fences. The group built a community center and outfitted the four-story building that houses the village council. |
| World Vision said its Gaza programs were “subject to regular internal and independent audits, independent evaluations and a broad range of internal controls aimed at ensuring that assets reach their intended beneficiaries and are used in compliance with applicable laws and donor requirements.” | World Vision said its Gaza programs were “subject to regular internal and independent audits, independent evaluations and a broad range of internal controls aimed at ensuring that assets reach their intended beneficiaries and are used in compliance with applicable laws and donor requirements.” |
| Others in Gaza expressed alarm over the allegations. | Others in Gaza expressed alarm over the allegations. |
| Hamdi Shaqqura, the deputy director of programs at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, an independent organization based in Gaza, said that the accusations against Mr. Halabi could have “serious implications” for non-governmental funding in Gaza. Mr. Shaqqura, whose organization has been critical of both Hamas and Israel, cautioned that Israel’s security service had “published the accusations – they say he confessed —but the court has not decided.” | Hamdi Shaqqura, the deputy director of programs at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, an independent organization based in Gaza, said that the accusations against Mr. Halabi could have “serious implications” for non-governmental funding in Gaza. Mr. Shaqqura, whose organization has been critical of both Hamas and Israel, cautioned that Israel’s security service had “published the accusations – they say he confessed —but the court has not decided.” |