Charity Commission announcement follows Declassified’s investigation into donations to illegal settlers

A major inquiry has been launched into British charities months after Declassified revealed donations may have been sent to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

In an unprecedented move, the Charity Commission has opened an investigation into eight groups to examine whether funds are being used for legitimate charitable purposes.

The regulator claimed the decision to open an inquiry was “not a finding of wrongdoing”, but said there were “serious allegations” about multiple charities.

A spokesperson refused to name the charities under investigation, instead describing them as “amongst those which were identified in concerns recently raised with the Commission”. 

The announcement follows an investigation by Declassified earlier this year, which revealed how Israeli group Shivat Zion offered to help British citizens move to “awesome” illegal settlements.

Shivat Zion told supporters it could benefit from UK Gift Aid, by directing donations via a separate charity called UK Toremet Ltd, based near London.

In an email seen by Declassified, a representative from Shivat Zion claimed that donations “go through” the UK Toremet charity, explaining that this “ensures the donations properly reach Shivat Zion”.

Applying Gift Aid means the British government will add 25% on to charitable donations.

Our investigation led to calls by British MPs for the government to sanction Shivat Zion and take action against UK Toremet.

Labour MP Grahame Morris said: “I am appalled that UK taxpayers may have been funding an organisation that helps people move to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

“The government must act swiftly to investigate and shut down any organisations facilitating breaches of international law.”

‘Serious allegations’

Since 2016, the regulator has undertaken three separate “regulatory compliance cases” about UK Toremet’s work in Palestine. 

The charity’s trustees were also issued with statutory guidance and an action plan, which warned it must comply with the Geneva Conventions Act 1957. 

Stephen Roake, the commission’s assistant director, said: “All charities must be able to demonstrate that they are delivering on their charitable purposes, wherever in the world they operate and whatever they do.

“Serious allegations have been made about UK charities operating in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, so our first step is to establish the facts. Only then can we determine if regulatory action is required, based on our findings and the evidence we see.”

He added: “Our fact-finding will also help us develop regulatory guidance for charities, which will help to ensure public trust and confidence in charities.”

A spokesperson for UK Toremet previously told Declassified: “Grants are made within the scope of English charity law, in accordance with UK Toremet’s own grantmaking policies and procedures, and in accordance with Charity Commission guidance.

“All grants made by UK Toremet are made with the full discretion of UK Toremet’s Trustees, taking into account any wishes expressed by those who originally donated the funds to UK Toremet for the funds to be used for a particular charitable purpose.”