I care more about Palestinians than their leaders: Israeli PM

August 12, 2016 02:52

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he cares more about the Palestinian people than their leaders do, in his first response to allegations of aid theft by Hamas.

"I, the prime minister of Israel, care more about Palestinians than their own leaders do," Netanyahu said in a video posted online, which provoked outrage from the Palestinians.

"Israel cares more about Palestinians than their own leaders do," he added.

The Israeli leader said his comments were in response to allegations that the militant Islamic Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, stole aid from a major charity and the United Nations.

An Israeli court on August 4 charged World Vision's Gaza head Mohammed al-Halabi with funding "terror," while a UN engineer was indicted Tuesday on allegations of working with Hamas's military wing.

"Hamas, the terrorist organisation that runs Gaza, stole millions of dollars from humanitarian organisations like World Vision and the United Nations," said Netanyahu.

"Innocent and impoverished Palestinians were denied vital aid supplied from nations around the world," he added.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said "the hate that Netanyahu has against the Palestinian people makes him invent a parallel history."

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