“I don’t know what the court is basing its claim on,” he told reporters. He said the judges’ summary had “nothing to do with the evidence presented in court.”
He said the state had not provided evidence on what projects Halabi was supposed to have diverted funds from, what governments had given the money to or how the aid was transferred to Hamas.
“This case was never based on any reality. The $ 50 million theft charge is only inconsistent with the reality of a total budget of $ 22 million,” the former World Vision Australia CEO wrote. , Tim Costello, and former colleague Conny Lenneberg, in an opinion piece for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
“Contrary to the Israeli government’s claims of respect for the rule of law, the conduct of this trial demonstrates a fundamental disregard for the basic principles of a fair trial and the general political goal of strictly controlling humanitarian aid in Gaza “.
World Vision spokeswoman Sharon Marshall said the organization acknowledged the verdict “with disappointment” and said it would support any appeal because it believed Halabi was innocent.
International human rights organizations have criticized Halabi’s prolonged detention and trial. Human Rights Watch said the verdict “aggravates a miscarriage of justice.”
On Tuesday, the head of the United Nations Office for Human Rights in Palestine, James Heenan, also expressed concern.
The widespread use of secret evidence, reliance on closed proceedings and credible allegations of ill-treatment during detention “paint a picture of enormous pressure on Mr el-Halabi to confess in the absence of evidence,” Heenan said.
Protesters gather in support of Mohammed el-Halabi after the verdict. Credit: AP
In Gaza, dozens of Palestinians gathered with Halabi posters to show their support.
“This is a serious mistake and an injustice,” his father, Khalil el-Halabi, told Reuters. “My son is innocent.”
In a separate case in parallel with the Halabi trial, the Authority of the Corporation of Israel (ICA), which oversees the activities of NGOs, asked a Jerusalem court to dissolve World Vision in Israel. show official documents obtained by Reuters.
The ICA declined a request for comment.
A 2021 review of the organization by the Department of Non-Profit Associations and Charities determined that there were “serious flaws” in World Vision’s activities involving the transfer of funds to parties “known as terrorist agents.” , although the report did not provide evidence or further whether “terrorist agents” meant Halabi or others.
A judge will decide whether to disband the organization in Israel later this month.