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Spanish citizen pleads guilty in Israeli court to funding Palestinian terrorists

Israel accused Juana Ruiz Rishwami of duping European donors by using fake financial records.

Juana Ruiz Rishwami. Source: Screenshot.
Juana Ruiz Rishwami. Source: Screenshot.

Juana Ruiz Rishwami, a Spanish resident of the West Bank, pleaded guilty in an Israeli military court on Wednesday for facilitating payments to Palestinian terrorists.

Rishwami, a fundraiser for the NGO Health Work Committees, was found culpable for diverting European aid to a Palestinian organization listed on the Europe Union’s terrorism list, reported Reuters. She was convicted for carrying out activities on behalf of the group and for making illicit money transfers.

Israel accused Rishmawi of duping European donors by using fake financial records. The aid has reportedly been tracked to terror groups such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

She is set to be sentenced on Nov. 17.

“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,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

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