The Charity Commission is investigating allegations that a Birmingham-based international development charity has funded a sanctioned organisation in Gaza.
In January 2024, the commission opened a statutory inquiry into We Care Foundation, which provides aid to victims of war and natural disasters, concerning its trustees’ decision-making and payments to its trustees and their related companies.
Subsequently, in March 2024, the regulator froze the charity’s bank accounts and limited it to making payments only after seeking consent from the commission.
Now, the UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has raised concerns with the commission over the charity’s funding of the Qawafil Al Khair Association in Gaza.
According to an online register, the Gaza-based association is sanctioned and labelled as a terrorist organisation in Israel.
However, the organisation, which aims to provide emergency relief services for families in Gaza, has not been sanctioned by the UK government.
The commission said in response that it was already investigating past payments from the We Care Foundation to the Qawafil Al Khair Association as part of its inquiry.
Regulator: ‘We are already investigating’
UKLFI alleged that the association was founded by two people who have ties with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, responsible for the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel.
Director Caroline Turner said: “If a UK charity is funding a charity in Gaza that specialises in helping the widows and orphans of Hamas fighters, then this amounts to assisting Hamas, a terrorist organisation.”
A commission spokesperson told Civil Society: “We are already investigating, within the scope of our ongoing inquiry, past payments by the charity to its partners and its relationships with other organisations including Qawafil Al Khair Association.
“We Care Foundation’s bank accounts remain frozen while our comprehensive investigations continue.
“We expect all charities to carry out robust due diligence when working with partners at home or overseas, particularly those working in high-risk areas, to make sure charity money doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.”
Foundation: ‘These allegations misrepresent the work we do’
A We Care Foundation spokesperson told Civil Society that it denies the “unfounded allegations suggesting that we have knowingly funded any organisation linked to terrorism”.
In response to UKLFI’s accusation that its funding is “helping the widows and orphans of Hamas fighters”, the spokesperson said such an assertion would “unjustly criminalise every woman and child we assist in Palestine, as well as implicate leading charities”.
If UKLFI's accusation implies that “providing food to starving women and children constitutes wrongdoing”, the foundation is “fully prepared to defend” itself, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that the regulator is “fully aware” of the charity’s partnership with the Qawafil Al Khair Association and has not been asked to stop raising funds.
“Our collaboration is focused solely on delivering vital humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities in Gaza, including widows, orphans, and displaced families,” they said.
“We release funds only after conducting rigorous due diligence, requiring comprehensive photographic and video evidence for all distributions.
“Over the past 15 months, we have received more than 10,000 documents verifying the dates, locations, and distributions taking place in camps designated by the Disaster Response Committee.
“This ongoing diligence reflects our firm commitment to compliance and ethical practices. Additionally, we have found no evidence to support the claims being made against us.
“These allegations misrepresent the essential work we do and unfairly undermine the reputation of charities dedicated to alleviating suffering in vulnerable communities.
“We welcome any inquiry into our operations and are confident in the integrity of our processes.”
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