Inquiry opened into claims Gaza charity funds used to promote Hamas
A woman whose assets were frozen following suspicion she was providing support for a terrorist-supporting news agency in Gaza is now being investigated by the Charity Commission.
Aozma Sultana is the sole director of two companies that appealed for humanitarian donations to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The companies, Aakhirah Limited and Al-Qureshi Executives, sought donations for emergency medication, food and shelter for those in the war-torn territory.
However, the charity regulator is now investigating whether the money was instead being used to fund the controversial Gaza Now news agency, which promotes the terrorist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The US Department of the Treasury has also alleged that the two companies have given thousands of dollars to Gaza Now.
It said the same companies advertised Gaza Now as a partner during a joint fundraiser, which started shortly after the Oct 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
In a statement, the Charity Commission said: “The regulator has serious concerns that the funds raised may not have been used for their intended purposes and may have been misappropriated.
“The appeal sought donations from the public for emergency medication, food and shelter to help those in need but is suspected of funding Gaza Now.
“Individuals and organisations raising funds for a particular charitable purpose have a legal responsibility for ensuring they are used for the purposes intended by the donors.”
Funds frozen
Last month, the UK Government issued sanctions against Ms Sultana over her alleged support for Gaza Now.
As a result of the move, all funds and economic resources in the UK belonging to or controlled by her and Mustafa Ayash, the founder of Gaza Now, have been frozen.
The sanctions also mean Ms Sultana is automatically disqualified from serving as a trustee or holding any senior management positions for any charity.
The statutory inquiry will look at what activities undertaken by Ms Sultana or the companies are relevant to the commission, and how the charitable funds were raised and used.
A report on the inquiry’s findings will be published in due course.
