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Australian Probe Clears World Vision over Gaza Case

muhadjir - Wednesday, 22 March 2017 - 14:45 WIB

Wednesday, 22 March 2017 - 14:45 WIB

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Muhammad el-Halabi, a manager of the World Vision charity's operations in Gaza Strip, was indicted on August 4, 2016, for diverting the charity's funds to terrorist organization. - World Vision.

Muhammad el-Halabi, a manager of World Vision charity’s operations in Gaza Strip, was indicted on August 4, 2016, for diverting the charity’s funds to terrorist organization. – World Vision.

 
Sydney, 23 Jumadil Akhir 1438/22March 2017 (MINA) – An Australian government probe has found no evidence taxpayer money was misused by the humanitarian NGO World Vision in the Gaza Strip, after Israel alleged millions of dollars were diverted to Hamas.

In August 2016, Israel accused World Vision’s Gaza head Mohammed al-Halabi of siphoning off millions of dollars per year to the Islamist group that rules the Palestinian enclave, claims the NGO said it had seen no evidence for.

Also Read: Over 3,500 Gazans Killed in 38 Days of Israeli Ground Offensive

Australia had given millions of dollars to the charity’s work in the Palestinian territories in previous years and immediately suspended its funding for their Gaza programmes, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) announcing a review.

“The review uncovered nothing to suggest any diversion of government funds,” alaraby.co.uk quoted DFAT as saying in a statement Tuesday.

Halabi’s court case is ongoing but his lawyers have accused the prosecution of refusing to hand over much of the evidence.

World Vision itself is also conducting an independent review of its operations to determine whether any graft occurred.

Also Read: Rights Center Accuses Israel of Using Armed Gangs to Commit Crimes in Gaza

DFAT said funding to World Vision’s programmes would remain frozen pending the result of the probe and Halabi’s trial.

Tim Costello, chief advocate for World Vision Australia, said he was “very pleased and very relieved” at the findings.

“Our own ongoing audit has not uncovered any diversion of funds,” he told AFP, though he stressed it would not be finalized until the summer.

“For DFAT to say there was no diversion of funds is very welcome.”

Also Read: Israeli Ongoing Aggression on Gaza Kills Nears 65,200 Civilians

A spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry declined to comment, saying it preferred to allow the trial to play out. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

Also Read: Israeli Police Arrest and Ban Al-Aqsa Preacher Sheikh Sarandah from Mosque Entry

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