UN worried by Israel claims of aid re-directed to Hamas

By Kaamil Ahmed

JERUSALEM (AA) – The UN chief for aid and development for Palestine has warned of the potential humanitarian fallout from a scandal around aid agency funds allegedly being diverted to Hamas.

Robert Piper called in a statement on Monday for a prompt and fair trial for the U.S.-based World Vision charity's Gaza director Mohammed el-Halabi, who was arrested by Israeli forces in June.

Last week, Israeli authorities accused el-Halabi of diverting $7 million a year from World Vision projects in the Gaza Strip to Hamas operations, including those run by its military wing.

"Redirecting relief away from its intended beneficiaries would be a profound betrayal of the trust put in a senior manager by his employer and by the organization’s donors," Piper said.

"If proven by a due legal process, these actions deserve unreserved condemnation; Gaza’s demoralized and vulnerable citizens deserve so much better,” he added.

Since the allegations emerged Thursday, Australia has suspended funding worth $3.8 million and the charity's German wing said all funding from the German government has been stopped during the investigation.

Despite claims of el-Halabi directing $7 million a year, the charity said its total budget for the region over the last decade has been only $22.5 million and that there have been no irregularities in independent audits of the charity's finances.