|
Steven Emerson,
Executive Director
|
August 4, 2016
|
|
Hamas
Diverts Millions From U.S.-Based NGO To Finance Terrorist Capabilities
by IPT News • Aug 4, 2016 at 2:43
pm
|
|
|
|
Share:
|
Be the
first of your friends to like this.
Hamas diverted "tens of millions of dollars" from World
Vision, a U.S.-based Christian charity, to rebuild its terrorist
infrastructure, Israel's Shin Bet domestic security Shin Bet said Thursday.
The terrorist group reportedly siphoned 60 percent of the charity's
resources in Gaza to reconstruct Hamas' tunnel network and military
installations, in addition to purchasing weapons intended to kill Israelis.
This amount translated to roughly $7.2 million each year.
Israeli security personnel arrested World Vision Gaza operations manager
Muhammad Halabi on June 15. On Thursday, Halabi, also an alleged Hamas
operative, was indicted on several charges related to the case.
The investigation revealed that Halabi was recruited to infiltrate World
Vision in 2005 for the purposes of stealing funds to help Hamas.
The alleged scheme exemplifies "the cynical and crude way in which
Hamas takes advantage of funds and resources from international
humanitarian aid organizations," a Shin Bet statement said.
World Vision defended Halabi and denied the accusations. As of one of
the largest humanitarian and charitable organizations worldwide, World
Vision receives most of its support from the United Nations and Western
governments.
Millions of dollars were intended to help in civilian reconstruction
efforts for Gaza's population, including building greenhouses, enhancing
agricultural projects, helping fishermen, and promoting mental and physical
health initiatives.
Instead "these [funds] were all used as a pipeline to transfer
money to Hamas," Shin Bet said.
The alleged scheme involved Hamas operatives, posing as World Vision
employees, filing fake proposals for World Vision- financed
projects in Gaza, before money laundering the cash straight to Hamas and
its military wing.
For example, Halabi launched an initiative to build greenhouses to hide
terrorist tunnel sites, while a proposed project intended to help Gaza's
fishermen ended up using the money to improve Hamas' naval capabilities.
Hamas terrorists also falsely listed their children as injured to
collect money intended to help children in Gaza who were actually wounded.
Moreover, Halabi used tens of thousands of dollars from the charity's
finances to buy weapons in the Sinai during ousted Egyptian president
Muhammad Morsi's reign.
For more information and examples about how Hamas diverted legitimate
charitable funds from World Vision click here.
According to Israel's investigation, 40 percent of the funds allocated
for civilian projects – about $1.5 million per year – were transferred to
Hamas' terrorist units in cash. Approximately $4 million per year intended
for helping needy civilians in Gaza were also diverted to Hamas for the
purposes of enhancing its terrorist capacity.
Money was also reportedly used to pay the salaries of Hamas personnel,
while some senior leaders pocketed large sums for themselves.
Since the end of the summer 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, several reports emerged documenting how the terrorist
group prioritizes its fight against Israel over the wellbeing of its
population. This latest investigation uncovers important details on how
Hamas exploits legitimate charitable organizations worldwide
to finance its terrorist infrastructure at the expense of needy civilians
and societal development.
|
The IPT accepts no funding from
outside the United States, or from any governmental agency or political or
religious institutions. Your support of The Investigative Project on
Terrorism is critical in winning a battle we cannot afford to lose. All
donations are tax-deductible. Click here to donate online. The
Investigative Project on Terrorism Foundation is a recognized 501(c)3
organization.
202-363-8602
- main
202-966-5191
- fax
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment