An Israeli court sentenced the former head of a major American aid agency in Gaza to 12 years in prison for the crime of issuing millions of...
An Israeli court sentenced the former head of a major American aid agency in Gaza to 12 years in prison for the crime of issuing millions of dollars to the Hamas group.
According to a report published in the maknews-21, the Beersheba District Court of Southern Israel has sentenced World Vision's Muhammad Al-Halabi to 12 years in prison.
The court declared in June that Mohammed al-Halabi was guilty of illegally giving millions of dollars and tons of steel to Hamas, the organization that controls the Palestinian territories.
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Mohammed Al-Halabi was arrested in June 2016 and indicted in August of the same year.
He has denied indulging in any irregularity and irregularity during his detention for the last 6 years.
Even after Halabi was convicted, his lawyer repeated his claim of innocence.
His lawyer Maher Hina said that Mohammad Al-Halabi says he is innocent, he has not done anything wrong and there is no evidence against him of involvement in any illegal activities.
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Mohammed al-Hallabi's lawyer added that contrary to all these allegations, he proved in court in no uncertain terms that in the course of his duties he ensured that no money was given directly to Hamas.
According to Mehr Hanna, if Muhammad Al-Halabi had confessed to the wrongdoings, he would have been released, but he insisted that the truth also has value and importance.
His lawyer said that he stuck to the truth for his personal values and the values of global humanitarian and aid work, he could never admit to something he did not commit.
Meher Hina said that she will file an appeal in the Supreme Court against this decision.
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Israeli prosecutors, on the other hand, said they were also considering filing an appeal.
Mohammed al-Halabi has been convicted of membership in Hamas, financing terrorist activities, providing information to the enemy, and possession of weapons.
Much of the evidence against him has been kept secret by Israel, citing security concerns, prompting its legal team to question the legality of the verdict.
According to the court, the purpose of the 12-year sentence is also to prevent Gazans working in international aid groups from supporting Hamas.
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Halabi's mother in Gaza called the verdict unfair.
Amal Al-Halabi said while reacting to the verdict, "After hearing the verdict, I felt like my nerves stopped working, I was crying."
Umar Shakir, director of Israel and Palestine at Human Rights Watch, described the 12-year sentence as the murder of justice and said that it is unjust.
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