A charity that promoted a fundraising appeal to provide equipment for the Israeli military has been handed an official warning by the regulator.

The Charity Commission said it “considers that a breach of trust or duty, or other misconduct and/or mismanagement has been committed” following Mizrachi Israel Support Trust’s promotion of the appeal.

The appeal was promoted on the charity’s website and Facebook page with a purpose that was contrary to the charity’s mission of operating for the public benefit “specifically the raising of funds to provide equipment to soldiers in a foreign military”, the regulator found.

The regulator adds that while the charity’s promotional resources were used there is no evidence that its funds were deployed in its support of the appeal.

“Promoting the appeal was not in the charity’s best interests, and it risked the charity’s reputation,” warned the regulator, which is also concerned that Mazrachi failed to document its decision making in relation to the appeal.

In addition, the regulator found that charity did not follow its own policies to manage risks of fundraising and sending funds internationally, which was “a failure to manage the charity’s resources responsibly”.

The charity has been told to ensure all its activities are for the public benefit and develop a policy on managing risks in grant funding to other organisations.

“We will follow up with the charity’s trustees in due course to ensure the charity complies with the actions required by the Official Warning,” added a Charity Commission spokesperson.

The investigation into the charity was prompted by a complaint by the International Centre of Justice or Palestinians (ICJP), which said it “welcomes the Charity Commission’s action as an important step in upholding the law and ensuring that charities do not exploit their status to fund military activity”.

Its head of legal Mutahir Ahmed added: “The Charity Commission’s official warning is a clear signal that Mizrachi UK breached its duties as a registered charity. The case remains open until it completes all required remedial actions.”

Mizrachi Israel Support Trust has been contacted for comment.

Earlier this year another Jewish charity, Chabad Lubavitch Centres North East London and Essex Limited , was also issued with an official warning for acting outside its remit by raising funds for an Israeli Defence Forces soldier based in northern Israel.

“Providing aid or military supplies to any foreign armed force is not a charitable purpose, and no charity can legally undertake such activity,” said the Charity Commission at the time.

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