The Charity Commission has launched a “fact finding statutory class inquiry” into concerns around charities working in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine.

Eight charities will be initially investigated, and the regulator plans to include others in its probe that appear to be using charity funds to support, either directly or indirectly, activities in the settlements.

The first charities involved in the inquiry have been prioritised following an assessment of “concerns received against a range of risk factors such as the location of charity partners and how recently alleged activity occurred”.

None of the charities involved are being publicly named by the regulator.

The regulator’s investigation follows a formal complaint submitted earlier this summer by Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy Melanie Ward, who is a former chief executive of the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.

She claims that 32 charities had “funnelled” £28m to illegal Israeli settlements over the last five years.

In June the Charity Commission confirmed that it was “carefully considering” matters raised.

“All charities must be able to demonstrate that they are delivering on their charitable purposes, wherever in the world they operate and whatever they do,” said the Commission’s assistant director, high risk compliance, Stephen Roake.

“Serious allegations have been made about UK charities operating in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, so our first step is to establish the facts. Only then can we determine if regulatory action is required, based on our findings and the evidence we see.

“Our fact-finding will also help us develop regulatory guidance for charities, which will to help ensure public trust and confidence in charities.”

---