Orlando Fraser KC,

Charity Commission
PO Box 211
Bootle
L20 7YX

Dear Orlando Fraser KC,

New revelations about the role of a British charity in supporting the Israeli military have compelled us to write to you to ask what if any action the Commission is taking to halt and prevent such activities.

The latest allegations centre on the UK Friends of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israeli soldiers (UKAWIS), a London based organisation that says it is “dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Israeli soldiers.” Its website shows a video of what appears to be a Palestinian throwing a projectile and being blown up immediately afterwards followed by a montage of air strikes on Palestinian targets. An article published in Byline Times on 8 Jan 2024 quotes the Commission as saying that there is an “active case” against UKAWIS based on a historic complaint about fundraising activities. Even if that is the case, we struggle to see how providing support to armed forces, especially one that is currently on trial for waging a genocide against an occupied and besieged population in Gaza can be consistent with any bona fide charitable aims.

The scale of death and destruction meted out on the population of Gaza over the last three months – over 26,000 people have been killed to date, at least 70% of whom are believed to be women and children, has been so egregious and so well documented that it is difficult to escape the conclusion that any organisation supporting Israeli forces, directly or indirectly, is itself complicit in the massacre of innocent people.

We regret to have to tell you that we believe that the Commission’s failure to act firmly and decisively on previous complaints has led to a situation whereby charities continue to exploit the financial advantages conferred by charity status to raise money from the public for the pursuit of the military objectives of a foreign force.

You will be aware that a separate complaint was made to the Commission in 2015 by IHRC about a charity called UK Toremet. The complaint, based on an extensive investigation, alleged that funds raised by UK Toremet, which serves as a UK portal that funnels money to a range of Israel-based organisations, were inter alia being used to buy supplies for the Israeli army. The outcome of the Commission’s enquiries confirmed this main finding of our investigation. However, we believe the Commission has not taken sufficiently strong action against UK Toremet and there are still question marks over how effectively it is being scrutinised. Since the complaint against UK Toremet the charity has stopped public access on its website to the organisations it is helping in Israel, effectively preventing the general public from finding out what they are donating to.

However, a cursory internet search has found various organisations fundraising for equipment for the Israeli Defence Force during its current invasion of Gaza. These organisations have used UK Toremet to process their donations. One of these is One People, set up after 7 October 2023, in its own words “to provide IDF soldiers and rapid response teams with the bulletproof vests, helmets and other lifesaving equipment”. The website openly lists UK Toremet as a partner organisation through which people can donate to One People. One People is also listed by Yad L’Olim, a non-profit organisation in Israel, as a conduit for funds to Israeli soldiers and their units, supplying lone soldiers with helmets, vests, armour, tactical glasses, knee pads and tactical gloves.

The supply of military equipment to a state army that is currently on trial for genocide in the International Court of Justice barely meets the threshold of what is legal, let alone what can be considered a charitable purpose. It is a flagrant abuse of charity status to carry out activities that are not only legally dubious but potentially criminal. The continued fundraising for an army accused of committing a genocide brings the charities involved into disrepute and runs the real risk of tarnishing the reputation of the entire sector as people may view charities as a means to raising funds in the UK to break laws abroad.

In recent years we have seen the Commission coming down hard on Muslim organisations accused of infractions of charity regulations. Even when the infractions have been minor or the complaints dubious the Commission has brought down the full weight of its powers on the charities concerned. In contrast, your actions in respect of complaints against pro-Israel charities seem to lack any bite. We would like to know what action you have taken against the two charities named in this letter and at what stage, if any, the investigations against them have reached. Such information is vital if the Commission is serious about being seen not only as an effective watchdog but also a fair and just operator free of racial and political bias.

Signed by:

Islamic Human Rights Commission

5 Pillars

Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission

Black Activists Rising Against Cuts UK

Black Lives Matter Coalition

CAGE International

CAMPAIN

Convivencia Alliance

Cordoba Foundation

Hands Off Uhuru – Hands Off Africa

InMinds Human Rights Group

International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network

Jewish Network for Palestine

Jewish Voice for Labour

Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK

No2NATO

Palestinian Forum in Britain

Peacemaker Trust

PSC Scotland

Scotland Against Criminalising Communities

Chris Williamson, former Member of Parliament

Lowkey, Activist and Entertainer

Prof. David Miller, Spinwatch