The Charity Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case into a humanitarian charity following allegations that funds it has raised are going to Hamas.
The regulator is investigating London-based charity Save One Life UK after receiving complaints that money donated to the charity to help people in Gaza is ending up in the hands of the group, labelled by the UK government as a terrorist organisation.
A commission spokesperson told Civil Society: “We are aware of serious allegations made about Save One Life, which the charity also promptly reported to us.
“As a result, we have opened a regulatory compliance case to allow us to gather more information. As part of this, we have engaged with the charity’s trustees and are currently assessing both the charity’s activities and the trustees’ oversight, particularly in relation to the application of its funds overseas.”
Save One Life UK: 'we do not work with Hamas'
Save One Life UK, which was registered with the commission in 2019, says its mission is to raise money and aid, and to deliver them to people in Gaza.
A spokesperson for Save One Life UK told Civil Society: “At a time when thousands have been killed through starvation and lack of funds to purchase bare essentials, we need the world and specifically the British public and media to support charitable efforts for the innocent victims.
“We always operate in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations,” the charity’s spokesperson added. “For the avoidance of doubt, we do not work with Hamas or any proscribed terrorist organisation.”
Save One Life UK’s website says it supports the people of Gaza with cash aid, “so they are empowered with a choice in how to meet their essential living needs”.
The charity said it has a list of all beneficiary names who receive its aid, so it can ensure it is going to people in need.
The organisation added that it has representatives on the ground who carry out spot checks against the list to ensure the right people receive the aid.
The Fundraising Regulator has not received any complaints about the charity and is not involved with the commission’s compliance case.
Metropolitan Police investigation
As well as the sector watchdog’s inquiry, Telegraph reported on 21 June that a complaint about Save One Life UK had been submitted to the Metropolitan Police in April over the charity’s material “promoting terrorism or extremism”.
The complaint was “passed on to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for investigation”, the Telegraph reported.
Related articles
