Charity Commission seeks advice from Attorney General regarding UK charity complicity in illegal Israeli settlements; ICJP legal campaign continues
23rd July 2025, London – The Charity Commission has sought advice from the Attorney General regarding the legality of charities donating millions to illegal Israeli settlement projects in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), including UK Toremet, who has been the target of an ICJP legal campaign.
The two UK-registered charities, Kasner Charitable Trust and UK Toremet Ltd, are responsible for transferring a total of £5.7 million to an Israeli high school in the illegal settlement of Susya in the West Bank, between 2017 and 2021.
ICJP wrote complaints to the Charity Commission in May 2024 and August 2024, regarding UK Toremet raising funds, including through UK-taxpayer funded Gift Aid, for four organisations responsible for blockading and disrupting aid to Gaza and/or extremist settler violence.
Of these four organisations, Im Tirtzu, Tzav 9, Torat Lechima and Hashomer Yosh, the latter two were subsequently sanctioned by the UK Government in October 2024 and Tzav 9 was also sanctioned by the US Government and the European Union.
The Charity Commission issued UK Toremet with an Action Plan following ICJP’s complaint, but it is clear that such muted regulatory action is insufficient to tackle UK Toremet’s ongoing settlement complicity. The Attorney General must call for the Charity Commission to stringently investigate all Israeli organisations fundraising through UK Toremet’s platform, given ICJP’s investigations into further UK Toremet links, including raising funds for groups that are now sanctioned by the UK.
Indeed, UK Toremet systematically facilitates fundraising for Israeli organisations that operate in the oPt, and the school in Susya cannot be treated as an isolated incident. There must be a blanket policy investigating groups that UK Toremet facilitates fundraising for, as it is clear that it is either unable or unwilling to carry out due diligence on all the charities using its platform who may be acting in violation of international law.
ICJP has also included evidence relating to UK Toremet in two submissions to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the oPt. In December 2024, ICJP answered a call to evidence ahead of her report on private sector crimes, and in July 2025, ICJP submitted evidence regarding UK Toremet, ahead of her report on corporate complicity.
Finally, UK Toremet is not an isolated example. The Attorney General and Charity Commission must not be reactive about individual instances when charities get flagged. Rather, they must proactively investigate and take action against British charities that may be facilitating international crimes in the oPt, including Achisomoch Aid Company (AAC) and JNF UK, both of which ICJP has submitted complaints about previously.
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.
- Links to: Im Tirtzu, Hashomer Yosh, and Torat Lechima. (Tzav 9 does not have a website).
- Links to the UK sanctions on Torat Lechima and Hashomer Yosh, the EU sanctions on Tzav 9, and the US sanctions on Tzav 9.
- Coverage of ICJP’s UNSR submissions on UK Toremet can be found here and here.
- Coverage of ICJP’s submissions to the Charity Commission regarding UK Toremet can be found here and 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.
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