Maher Hanna: I Hereby Attest

Below is the testimony of attorney Maher Hanna, which he posted on Facebook:

Today, 6.15.2023, marks seven years since the inhumane abduction of engineer Muhammad Khalil Halabi.

Today marks seven years since Muhammad Halabi was subjected repeatedly and relentlessly to various forms of blackmail, the most egregious being the threat of taking him away from his wife, kids, and the rest of his family, as well as from his humanitarian work in Gaza, if he did not cooperate with the attempt to put an end to all humanitarian aid work in Gaza. 

Seven years have passed since this hero made the ultimate sacrifice, rejecting this extortion in order to protect the cause of humanitarian work in Gaza.

I was present during engineer Muhammad Halabi's purported “trial:” 

I hereby testify that the number of blackmailers and the amount of blackmail attempts against the hero Muhammad Halabi only increased as his so-called "trial" went on.

Since I was there for it all, I can speak to the fact that throughout the entire seven-year period the legal process was neither fair nor honest, nor was it transparent.

I testify that in order to obfuscate the truth the judges came up with new, unprecedented ways to impose limitations on Muhammad and deny him the opportunity to receive a true, unbiased, and fair trial.

I testify that the investigators who testified in court looked neither into the facts nor the evidence of the case. Rather, with the court's assistance, they sought to prevent me in numerous ways from investigating the facts or presenting the evidence.

I testify that during the past seven years, the prosecution has not offered a single piece of factual evidence supporting the allegations against Muhammad.

I testify that the court willfully disregarded all of Muhammad's testimony and all evidence contradicting the allegations against him.

I testify that the court disregarded government documents and reports that refuted the accusations against Muhammad.

I testify that Muhammad was found guilty of all allegations against him without the court providing even a single explanation regarding how Muhammad allegedly carried out that of which he was accused.

I declare that the judgments, sessions, and limitations on Muhammad's freedom are ludicrous, lack any legitimate justification, and serve merely to obfuscate the truth in the eyes of the general public.

I testify that Muhammad's trial was merely a tool in the execution of a political agenda targeting humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza and that it served its purpose at the expense of justice, fairness, and the law.

Muhammad Halabi's trial had evolved into a test of the judiciary, and the court system failed. It is now obvious that the existing judicial system cannot be relied upon to provide the Palestinian people with even the most basic justice.

To save the Israeli judicial system, to achieve even the bare minimum of justice, we all wish and hope that such a large and unprecedented violation of the most basic standards of integrity will be rectified through an appeal before the Supreme Court.

Muhammad is an innocent hero deserving of our respect and admiration. Our prayers and hearts go out to him, his family, and his little children.