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| Israel: World Vision Gaza boss diverted cash to Hamas | Israel: World Vision Gaza boss diverted cash to Hamas |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Israel has charged the Gaza head of an international charity with diverting millions of dollars of foreign funds to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. | Israel has charged the Gaza head of an international charity with diverting millions of dollars of foreign funds to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. |
| The Shin Bet security service said about 60% of all funds sent to Gaza by the World Vision charity was being diverted to the Islamist movement. | The Shin Bet security service said about 60% of all funds sent to Gaza by the World Vision charity was being diverted to the Islamist movement. |
| It said Hamas recruited the charity's head of Gaza operations, Mohammed Halabi, more than a decade ago. | It said Hamas recruited the charity's head of Gaza operations, Mohammed Halabi, more than a decade ago. |
| World Vision said it had no reason to believe the allegations were true. | World Vision said it had no reason to believe the allegations were true. |
| It said it carried out regular audits of its Gaza programmes and was "shocked" by the charges. | It said it carried out regular audits of its Gaza programmes and was "shocked" by the charges. |
| "We will carefully review any evidence presented to us and will take appropriate actions based on that evidence," a statement said. | "We will carefully review any evidence presented to us and will take appropriate actions based on that evidence," a statement said. |
| Hamas is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US, EU, and UK among other countries. | |
| A Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the group had "no connection to [Mr Halabi] and therefore, all Israeli accusations are void and aim to suppress our people," Reuters news agency reported. | A Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the group had "no connection to [Mr Halabi] and therefore, all Israeli accusations are void and aim to suppress our people," Reuters news agency reported. |
| Shin Bet said Mr Halabi was arrested at the Erez border crossing in June and has now been charged with funding terrorism. | Shin Bet said Mr Halabi was arrested at the Erez border crossing in June and has now been charged with funding terrorism. |
| It said the aid money he funnelled to Hamas, and to its military wing the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, amounted to about $7.2m (£5.4m) a year. | It said the aid money he funnelled to Hamas, and to its military wing the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, amounted to about $7.2m (£5.4m) a year. |
| Mr Halabi set up fictitious projects, including ostensibly to help farmers and disabled people, falsely registered Hamas members as employees, and invented and inflated invoices, siphoning off money to the group, Shin Bet said. | Mr Halabi set up fictitious projects, including ostensibly to help farmers and disabled people, falsely registered Hamas members as employees, and invented and inflated invoices, siphoning off money to the group, Shin Bet said. |
| The security service said these funds were used, amongst other things, for the digging of tunnels intended to be used for attacks on Israeli civilian communities, the building of military bases and for the purchase of weapons. | The security service said these funds were used, amongst other things, for the digging of tunnels intended to be used for attacks on Israeli civilian communities, the building of military bases and for the purchase of weapons. |
| It said one base costing $80,000 was paid for in cash from UK donations. | It said one base costing $80,000 was paid for in cash from UK donations. |
| However, it said there was no evidence that the Christian charity's main office had been aware of Mr Halabi's alleged actions. | However, it said there was no evidence that the Christian charity's main office had been aware of Mr Halabi's alleged actions. |