Jerusalem – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he cares more about the Palestinian people than their leaders do, in response to the arrested of a senior employee of the international aid group World Vision, accused of funneling millions of dollars in aid money to Hamas.
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“I, the prime minister of Israel, care more about Palestinians than their own leaders do,” Netanyahu said in a video posted online.
“Israel cares more about Palestinians than their own leaders do,” he added.
“That sounds incredible, right?”
Mohammad El Halabi, World Vision’s manager of operations in Gaza, was arrested by Israel on June 15 while crossing the border into the enclave.
To divert the funds, the Shin Bet said el-Halabi initiated fictitious projects meant to help farmers, the disabled and fishermen.
He would falsely list Hamas operatives as workers on those projects and write up inflated receipts, according to the Shin Bet. Companies hired to carry out certain projects under fictitious tenders were “made aware” that 60 percent of the project’s funds were destined for Hamas.
“Hamas, the terrorist organisation that runs Gaza, stole millions of dollars from humanitarian organisations like World Vision and the United Nations,” said Netanyahu.
“Innocent and impoverished Palestinians were denied vital aid supplied from nations around the world,” he added.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem called the allegations “lies that may be part of the justification of the blockade imposed by the occupation on Gaza.”
Many times it seems like Israel cares more about the palis than about the Israelis!