One of the world’s largest humanitarian charities has been duped for years into funding the Hamas terror organization, the Shin Bet security agency revealed on Thursday.
The World Vision group, a multi-billion dollar Christian charity with more than 45,000 employees, unknowingly funded the Hamas terror group in Gaza for roughly a decade after a member of Hamas, Muhammad Halabi, infiltrated World Vision in 2005.
According to the Shin Bet’s report Thursday, Halabi funneled millions of dollars intended for humanitarian use towards the terrorist group.
By 2010, Halabi had reached a senior position within World Vision, leading its Gaza branch, enabling him to divert more than $7 million annually from civilian needs to Hamas coffers.
In a joint operation of the Shin Bet, the IDF, and Israeli police, Halabi was apprehended for his work with the terror organization.
During interrogation, Halabi admitted he had worked within World Vision on behalf of Hamas’ military wing, and that he channeled funds and other resources towards the terror group.
The Shin Bet reported that the 38-year old civil engineer was captured in June while entering Israel at the Erez crossing along the Gaza border.
During his tenure as local director, some 60% of the budget given to World Vision’s Gaza branch was given over to Hamas’ military wing, enabling the group to build a base, expand its terror tunnel network, pay salaries to terrorists, and even purchase weapons.