UK Charity Commission Investigating Donations to Hamas Affiliates

Photo Credit: Qawafil Al Khair website

Qawafil Al Khair activities

In February 2023, the group Focus on Western Islamism revealed that a Hamas-operated organization based in the Gaza Strip, led by two individuals directly involved in stabbing and bombing attacks on Israeli civilians, was organizing public events in the United Kingdom with support from several British charities.

The revelation came just one week after the release of the British government-commissioned Prevent review, which emphasized that individuals fundraising for Hamas or engaging in illegal activities to support the group must face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, just as those supporting Islamic State, National Action, or other proscribed organizations.

FWI cited an expert on the matter who said, in February 2023, that the organization Qawafil Al Khair “does indeed appear to be a registered charity in Gaza, where it is close to the ruling authorities. But the Gaza Strip is in the hands of Hamas, a designated terror organization in the US and Europe.”

On Saturday, The Telegraph reported that the UK government’s Charity Commission is investigating payments made by the We Care Foundation to the Qawafil Al Khair Association in Gaza, which has close ties to Hamas.

The official webpage of the Qawafil Al Khair Association claims: “The relief mission is focused on securing basic aid to needy families from our dear homeland and refugees (Palestinians and Syrians), according to the donor’s request for food, clothing, and housing.” But in reality, the organization directs a significant portion of its funds to the widows and orphans of deceased Hamas fighters, which is why it was designated as a terrorist organization by the Israeli government only last month.

The Telegraph cited a Charity Commission spokesman who stated: “We are already investigating, within the scope of our ongoing inquiry, past payments by the charity to its partners and its relationships with other organizations, including the Qawafil Al Khair Association. We Care Foundation’s bank accounts remain frozen while our comprehensive investigations continue.”

The Charity Commission has stressed that it expects all charities to conduct “robust due diligence” when partnering with organizations domestically or abroad, particularly in high-risk areas, to ensure that charity funds are not misused or diverted.

A spokesperson for the commission stated: “Funding any illegal activity, including terrorism, is unacceptable, and we will continue to take action when such cases arise. However, these instances are rare, as hundreds of UK charities provide critical support in some of the most challenging and hostile environments worldwide.”