Sanctions authority called on to investigate British charities with financial links to Israeli settlement organisations sanctioned by UK government; Israeli ministers must face sanctions too
16th October 2024 – A day after the UK government’s decision to sanction three illegal settlement outposts and four settler organisations, the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is calling on UK authorities to investigate and take action against British charities that are facilitating international crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), including one with connections to two of the sanctioned settler organisations.
Specifically, ICJP has made a submission to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is the sanctions enforcement authority, alerting it to suspected breaches of UK sanctions by charities, and asking it to investigate and take action where a breach is found.
These organisations include JNF UK and UK Toremet. In August 2024, ICJP wrote to the Attorney General’s Office alerting it to the range of international crimes in which JNF UK is implicated. Previously, in May and August 2024, ICJP also filed complaints to the UK Charities Regulator regarding UK Toremet.
In the complaints to the Charities Regulator, ICJP specifically highlighted UK Toremet’s relationship with Torat Lechima and Hashomer Yosh – Israeli organisations that were both sanctioned by the UK government yesterday for their role in contributing to the cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of Palestinians. Thus far however, the Charities Regulator has not taken any substantive action against UK Toremet.
All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international humanitarian law, (IHL), forming a crucial part of Israel’s illegal occupation and settlement expansion of the oPt, as ruled on by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the 19th July 2024. The Israeli state recognises 144 of these illegal settlements ‘officially’, and says that a further 100 outposts exist that are not recognised by the Israeli state. This distinction is a fiction under IHL and is dismissed by the global community.
The UN Office of the High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) estimates that there are actually 300 illegal settlements, including outposts, meaning that the UK announcement covers only 1% of illegal settlements. It is unclear why the UK government has chosen to sanction such a small proportion of illegal settlements, despite public statements in support of the ICJ.
Furthermore, international criminal law and relevant IHL provisions are clear that transfer of Israeli civilians to settlements is a war crime. Settlement expansion couldn’t happen without the government infrastructure and ministers who promote, support and secure settlements. The UK government must therefore tackle this problem at the source and sanction Israeli government ministers who are complicit in illegal settlement expansion, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. This is especially noteworthy considering comments made by former Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, that he sought to sanction Smotrich and Ben Gvir prior to leaving office.
ICJP Legal Officer Mira Naseer said:
“Sanctioning three settlements and a handful of organisations doesn’t scratch the surface. The ICJ was clear that all Israeli settlements are illegal, not just three. The UK government’s decision simply doesn’t make sense under international law.
Worse still, this approach is a sticking plaster at best. Without addressing the root causes, including the reckless Israeli government ministers who encourage these settlements, there can be no meaningful change.
And even closer to home, nothing has been done to cut off UK Gift Aid from registered ‘charities’ that fundraise for settlement organisations engaged in illegal activities. If the UK government is sanctioning these organisations, they must also take action against the complicit British groups that help finance them.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- ICJP’s press release on its communication with the Attorney General’s Office regarding JNF UK can be read here.
- ICJP’s press release on its submission to the Charity Commission regarding UK Toremet can be read here.
- For more information, to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, or to view a full copy of the letter, please contact the ICJP news desk at press@icjpalestine.com.