The military trial against the Spanish Humanitarian Worker Juana Ruiz Sánchez, accused by Israel of belonging to illegal organization among other positions, began today after three postponements in the Occupied West Bank.
“The case against our client Juana Ruiz is unfounded and is part of Israel’s effort to criminalize all activity and external humanitarian organization in the occupied territories (Palestinians),” said his lawyer, Avigdor Fledman, before hearing.
Ruiz Sánchez, 62, entered today handcuffed and visibly tired in the room of the military offered jail, in the Occupied West Bank, where her husband and two representatives of the Spain Consulate in Jerusalem were.
Stopped from April 13, Ruiz Sánchez worked as Project Coordinator at the NGO Palestinian Health Work Committees, and until May was not formally charged for military justice.
It is being judged by five charges, among them, “belonging to an illegal organization”, “participation in activities of an illegal organization” and “be part of the Board of Directors of an illegal organization.”
Israel considers that the entity where it is employed diverted funds to the activity of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (FPLP), which considers terrorist, as well as the EU or the United States.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry denounced that the FPLP would be operating a network of humanitarian organizations in the West Bank, among which stressed the health committees, whose director, Satha Odeh, was also arrested in July.
These NGOs would divert funds that European countries donate as international cooperation through a fraud, falsification and complaint of documents.
Last Thursday, the High Representative of the Foreign Policy of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, defended that “to date, (the EU) has not encountered evidence based on misuse or deviation in Palestine”.
“Now he is examining the recent accusations of the Israeli authorities in this regard,” Borrell argued in a parliamentary response to the requirement of MEP, Soraya Rodríguez.
“The EU is perfectly aware of the Spanish citizen’s issue Juana Ruiz Sánchez,” the head of European diplomacy said and added that “providing Ruiz Sánchez adequate detention conditions and guaranteeing that he receives consultation and legal advice continue to be held extremely.
importance”.
Borrell showed the EU’s commitment to follow “supporting civil society organizations as essential taxpayers to good governance, the protection of human rights and sustainable development.”
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