What happened to World Vision's former Gaza director Mohammed el-Halabi?

A lingering mystery surrounds Mohammed el-Halabi, the former Gaza director for World Vision, who was released back to Hamas-ruled Gaza in February 2025 as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange. Despite his conviction in 2022 on multiple terrorism financing charges by an Israeli court, Halabi continues to deny any affiliation with Hamas.

In an extensive interview, Halabi shared details that add layers to his case. He claimed he deliberately provided Israeli authorities with inflated numbers regarding terrorism financing charges to undermine the prosecution. He also revealed that Hamas had contacted his wife as part of an internal investigation into whether he had stolen funds from the organization. Halabi further explained Hamas's significant investment in monitoring his Israeli trial and addressed controversies surrounding his defense witnesses.

Arrested in 2016, Halabi is currently residing in a tent in northern Gaza, attempting to rebuild his life and re-enter the humanitarian sector. He stated that hundreds of people have reached out to him for assistance, believing he still has ties to international organizations. "This is painful to me because I can’t help. I hope I will take a position in the near future to help the people and children, and contribute to setting up the culture of peace in the community, and erase the culture of violence," he wrote.

The 2022 court verdict detailed how Halabi allegedly diverted large quantities of iron, plastic, and digging tools to Hamas for terror tunnel construction and made payments to assist in tunnel repairs. The court ruled he was recruited by Hamas in 2004 and worked for the group before joining World Vision in 2005. Halabi, however, denies any membership in the terrorist organization for himself or his brother.

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This is painful to me because I can’t help. I hope I will take a position in the near future to help the people and children, and contribute to setting up the culture of peace in the community, and erase the culture of violence.