Israel adjourns hearing of Turkish charity worker in Gaza

Israeli court in Beer Sheva yesterday adjourned the hearing in the case of the Palestinian representative of the Turkish NGO TIKA to 5 July, Al-Resalah newspaper reported.

TIKA’s representative, Mohamed Mortaja, was arrested on 12 February at Erez crossing when he was travelling to Turkey from the Gaza Strip.

On 21 March, the Israeli intelligence services Shabak issued an indictment against him, claiming he worked with Al-Qassam Brigades, being member of a hostile organisation, contacting foreign spies and preparing a conspiracy to harm the State of Israel.

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His lawyer, Khalid Zabarqeh, said:

My client denied all the charges enlisted in the indictment which was introduced by the Shabak against him. His work [with the Turkish charity] was legal as he helped the needy and nothing more.

Israel has putting pressure on international charities working in Gaza since the start of the internationally-backed Israeli siege in 2007.

Israel arrested the UNDP engineer, Wahid Abdallah Al-Bursh, over claims he helped Hamas, as well as World Vision Director in Gaza, Mohamed Al-Halaby, over the same claims. Both are currently being held in Israeli jails.