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A UK charity that raised funds to send to an Israeli Defense Forces soldier has received an official warning from the sector regulator.
The Chabad Lubavitch Centres North East London and Essex — which promotes the “advancement of the Orthodox Jewish religion” — raised £2,280 between October 2023 and January 2024 to support a soldier stationed in northern Israel.
Some £937 was sent to the soldier, while “the remaining funds were spent on non-lethal military equipment purchased by the trustees and sent to the same soldier,” the Charity Commission for England and Wales said on Thursday.
Under the warning, the charity has required the trustees to decide whether the funds should be paid back, and report back to the commission within three months.
While charities can raise funds to promote the efficiency of the UK armed forces — if it is within their defined aims — providing military supplies to foreign armed forces is illegal under charity law.
The commission opened a case on the charity in December 2023 after receiving more than 180 complaints about its fundraising activity.
Charity trustees were unable to account for how the funds sent to the soldier were spent, it added.
The charity states the money it raises goes towards the advancement of the Orthodox Jewish religion and education, as well as towards relieving poverty and sickness.
The commission deemed this fundraising activity to be outside the scope of purpose with the trustees, who it said had failed to act in the best interest of the charity.
Helen Earner, director for regulatory services at the Charity Commission, said: “It is not lawful, or acceptable for a charity to raise funds to support a soldier of a foreign military.
“Our Official Warning requires the charity to set things right and is a clear message to other charities to stay true to their established purposes.”
Since October 2023, the Commission has opened more than 200 cases relating to the conflict in the Middle East, involving charities with different positions on the conflict, including one with links to a Hamas-supporting news agency.
These include an inquiry into World Aid Convoy over concerns the charity has links and was channelling funds to the Gaza Now news agency that “promotes Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad”.
The news agency and its founder have had their UK assets frozen by the government.
A separate investigation into funds raised by and on behalf of Aozma Sultana in connection with Gaza Now is also ongoing.
The regulator raised “serious concerns” that the funds may have been misappropriated to fund Gaza Now instead of being used for charitable purposes.
