Australian officials have attended the trial of World Vision Gaza employee Mohammad El Halabi, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of channelling millions of dollars of the aid organisation's money to the militant group Hamas.



Key points: El Halabi is accused of providing funds for Hamas to buy weapons, build tunnels

El Halabi is accused of providing funds for Hamas to buy weapons, build tunnels World Vision says it stands by its employee

World Vision says it stands by its employee Australia's deputy ambassador to Israel attends court hearing

El Halabi entered the courtroom flanked by three armed guards. He smiled briefly and waved at the dozen or so World Vision colleagues attending the trial.

Israeli authorities accuse the humanitarian worker of siphoning off millions of dollars of government funds and charity donations to build tunnels, buy weapons and pay for the salaries of Hamas militants.

World Vision said it continued to support its employee.

"Up until now we have seen no credible evidence to support those charges," said Conny Lenneberg, World Vision's regional leader in the Middle East.

World Vision's regional leader in the Middle East, Conny Lenneberg, attends court proceedings. ( ABC News: Sophie McNeill )

"So we stand in solidarity with Mohamed while we are calling for an open trial to test the veracity of these accusations."

World Vision said it had been conducting "a thorough and wide-ranging" review of its operations in Gaza, with a "forensic audit" currently being conducted by a "leading global accounting firm".

It said the review to date has not generated any concerns about diversion of World Vision resources.

"We want to find the truth. We want to ensure what evidence there is, is brought, and can be tested," Ms Lenneberg told the ABC outside the courtroom.

"Our experience of Mohammad as an employee of 10 years is as a very good and trusted employee and we have seen no evidence at all to change our opinion of that.

"So we are very concerned for him and his family and the impact this is having on trust around humanitarian work that is so critical in Gaza."

El Halabi placed in solitary confinement

The Australian Government has given more than $3 million to World Vision projects in Gaza in the past three years.

Australia's deputy ambassador to Israel, James McGarry, was in court to monitor proceedings.

Australia's deputy ambassador to Israel, James McGarry, in court for Mohammad Halabi's trial. ( ABC News: Sophie McNeill )

"The Australian Government maintains an interest in the outcome of the case," Mr McGarry told the ABC once the hearing was over.

"But I'm not going to comment further on an ongoing court case at the moment."

When El Halabi appeared in court three weeks ago, he spoke to the ABC, claiming he had been tortured during his interrogation.

Israeli prison authorities have told the ABC he is now being "punished" for giving that interview without approval and that El Halabi has been placed in solitary confinement.

El Halabi's lawyers are outraged by his isolation in jail.

"It's not clear for us why they are punishing him for things he wasn't aware he was forbidden to do," said Maher Hanna, one of Halabi's lawyers.

"This is just to create pressure on Mohammad. All these aggressive ways he is being treated is just to pressure him to accept the idea of a plea bargain."

A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to request for comment.