The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into World
Aid Convoy.
The regulator is investigating aid charity World Aid Convoy over
concerns that the charity has links to a Hamas supporting news
agency.
World Aid
Convoy has purposes to provide relief and assistance to
victims of war and natural disaster. It was registered with the
Charity Commission in 2014.
The Commission began engaging with the charity in March 2024,
after concerns were raised that funds were being solicited for
the charity through Gaza Now, a news agency that promotes Hamas
and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These concerns related to posts
shared on social media and private messaging service, Telegram.
The charity was referred to in posts shared on Telegram's ‘Gaza
Now' and ‘Gaza Now in English' channels.
During the regulator's engagement with the charity, Gaza Now, and
its founder, were made subject to a full asset freeze by the UK
Government as it has grounds to suspect that they are involved in
terrorism.
Any association between charities and terrorism or extremism is a
very serious regulatory concern. Such a link cannot be in the
best interests of any charity and is damaging to public trust and
confidence in the sector.
Initial engagement with the trustees gave rise to further
concerns about the charity's management and governance, and the
Commission escalated matters to a statutory inquiry in May
2024.
The inquiry is seeking to determine what, if any, links there are
between the charity and Gaza Now, if any funds have been provided
to Gaza Now either directly or via partners, and if these funds
can be fully accounted for.
The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional
regulatory issues emerge.
It is the Commission's policy, after it has concluded an inquiry,
to publish a report detailing the issues examined, any action
taken, and the inquiry's outcomes.
ENDS Notes to
editors
-
The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial
government department that registers and regulates charities
in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert
regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that
charity can thrive.
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The inquiry was opened on 24 May 2024 under section 46 of the
Charities Act 2011.
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On 27 March 2024, the UK Government announced new
sanctions on persons linked to Hamas-supporting media
network. The sanctions make it an offence for any UK
person or entity to make available “… funds, economic
resources and financial services to them or for their benefit
…”
