Claims about ministry's ties to Hamas worrisome

World Vision says it's doing an internal investigation to look into claims one of its employees is funneling money to the Hamas terror organization. In the meantime, contributors are being advised to direct their money elsewhere.

The Christian non-profit's Gaza manager, Mohammad el-Halabi, was charged in an Israeli court with aiding the Palestinian terror group by redirecting more than $7 million in contributions its way. World Vision did not return calls for comment, but has said in news releases that it has suspended its activities in Gaza. A spokesperson says the group is investigating the claims and is committed to correcting any oversight.

Laurie Cardoza-Moore of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations says a simple Internet search brought up Halabi's connection with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

"What is the vetting process?" she asks. "They hired a known Hamas member to distribute funds in Gaza."

Hamas is known to sponsor terror attacks inside Israel and is relentlessly persecuting Christians and other religious minorities in areas it controls. As Cardoza-Moore points out, "80 percent of Christians have fled Bethlehem because they are being persecuted by the Palestinians."

She says until the scandal is resolved, contributors need to stop giving to World Vision. "They should take World Vision off their list, and they need to find other organizations to financially support that are legitimately doing work to help," she counsels.

The allegations are shocking because Israel is "fighting for its survival," says Cardoza-Moore.

"Christians are being butchered throughout the Middle East, and you have a Christian organization like World Vision funding Hamas," notes the pro-Israel activist. "You've got to be kidding me."