PFLP Gaza terrorists
PFLP Gaza terroristsFlash 90

A Spanish citizen who worked for the “Health Work Committees”, an organization which was declared a terrorist organization in Israel and an illegal association in the region approximately two years ago, admitted today she raised funds that were used for PFLP operations.

In the plea deal presented to the military court in Judea and Samaria, defendant Juana Ruiz Rashmawi, admitted that she served as a fundraiser for the PFLP terrorist organization and that the Health Work Committees, where she worked, is one of the civilian arms of the PFLP, alongside Addameer, Bisan Center for Research and Development, Al-Haq, Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), Union of Palestinian Women's Committees (UPWC), and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC).

The defendant was extensively engaged in raising funds which reached the coffers of the PFLP terrorist organization. The donors, including countries and international organizations, were deceived and misled in a systematic and calculated manner in order to fund the terrorist organization. The organization’s activities were a significant and important source of funding for the PFLP.

The indictment states that the terrorist organizations understood that activity of a seemingly civilian nature could serve them in winning hearts and minds, fundraising, and even as cover for destructive terrorist activity.

According to the facts as admitted to by Rashmawi, the defendant has been raising funds amounting to millions of NIS over years from European countries, for the "Union of Health Committees", which operated on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Some of these funds were transferred to finance the activities of the PFLP. Many documents were forged by officials in the organization, and donors were defrauded and deceived with regards to the use of these donation funds.

The defendant continued these activities despite her suspicion that she was acting on behalf of the PFLP, and continued her work even after she learned that the organization's Finance Director had financed a terrorist attack against the State of Israel during his tenure.

The defendant's sentence will be handed down on November 17, 2021, she has been in custody since April 13, 2021.

The "Union of Health Committees" organization operated within the framework of the PFLP and therefore activity within its framework was prohibited. In addition, the organization was declared an illegal entity in Israel several years ago and was declared an illegal entity in Judea and Samaria in early 2020.

Minister of Defense Benny Gantz: “The State of Israel and its security apparatus respect human rights, and respect the activities of human rights organizations who have an important role in a democratic society. Terrorwashing by using the cover of human rights activities is a double sin - it fuels terrorism and harms organizations that do important work. We will continue to act against terrorism everywhere and in whatever form it takes.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid: “This admission of guilt is additional proof that a cynical, murderous terrorist organization established a network of lies and deception that uses the disguise of “humanitarian organizations” and “human rights organizations” as a conduit for the flow of funds for terrorism while deliberately misleading donors and countries.” “The entire international community must work together with Israel in order to prevent terrorist organizations from using the veneer of civilian cover, and to prevent aid funds from reaching terrorist organizations whose goal is to murder Jews, Christians, gays and lesbians, and moderate Muslims.”