Halabi,head of Gaza operations for World Vision,an international Christian aid group,was arrested in June 2016,accused of siphoning off up to $US50 million ($71 million) to pay Hamas fighters,buy arms and fund the group’s activities.
Halabi has denied the charges and refused several plea deal offers. He has told Reuters the charges were “a set of lies” meant to target humanitarian work in Gaza.
World Vision Australia -which says it was funded by the federal government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide services in the region,disputes Israel’s claims,and says audits by DFAT,by World Vision internally,and by an independent company – found no evidence that money or supplies were diverted.
Hamas,which governs blockaded Gaza,is designated by Israel and the West as a terrorist organisation.
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The full verdict was classified but the judges said their conviction centred on a confession by Halabi,which they said was “detailed,coherent,with signals of truth and particular details”. They said the confession matched details in other testimonies and evidence.
Sitting in a guarded court booth,Halabi received the verdict through a translator. His lawyer,Maher Hanna,has denied Halabi ever confessed and said he would appeal once the sentence is announced.