Israeli court convicts Gaza aid worker after 6 years of detention

Mohammad el-Halabi was former director of World Vision before being jailed by Israel in 2016

By Abdelraouf Arna'out

JERUSALEM (AA) - An Israeli court on Wednesday accused the former director of the World Vision aid organization in Gaza, Mohammad el-Halab, of being affiliated with a "terrorist organization" and transferring the organization's funds to the group.

The court, however, did not specify a sentence range for el-Halabi but scheduled July 10 as the date to announce his sentence.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it was aware of the Beersheva District Court conviction of el-Halabi for "providing information to the enemy (in reference to Hamas), and a range of other serious security offenses."

El-Halabi, 44, from the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, was jailed in July 2016 and since that time he has had 170 trial sessions.

US-based World Vision on several occasions has rejected the accusation against el-Halabi and his arrest was met with an international outcry, especially from the European Union and the US that were following his case.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar

Kaynak:

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