British aid charity reviewed over ‘links to Hamas’

A British human rights charity is being reviewed over claims that it is linked to a group controlled by Hamas. Restless Beings, based in east London, is accused of working closely with an organisation in Gaza that US officials say is directed by the proscribed terrorist organisation. The Charity Commission has opened a case against Restless Beings after it was sent a dossier of evidence alleging that it had shared staff and aid workers with a now-sanctioned “charity” that Hamas controls, and worked on joint operations with it. It is one of a number of British charities being investigated over links to the terror group. The Telegraph separately revealed in August that The Al-Khair Foundation , one of Britain’s biggest Muslim aid charities, was being investigated by the commission . The FBI said the foundation was being used as a front to bankroll Hamas, and it is seeking to extradite Mohammad Yousef Hasna, its “global director”, who was arrested in London. Al-Khair has denied any wrongdoing. In the latest case, questions are being asked about what links Restless Beings has to Merciful Hands, which was sanctioned in January by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control as a specially designated global terrorist entity. US officials said Merciful Hands was one of a number of civilian organisations which “claim to provide medical care to Palestinian civilians but in fact support the military wing of Hamas, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades”. They added that the supposed charity was “owned, controlled, or directed by” Hamas, and the military wing provided some of the organisation’s funding and specific operational instructions. A spokesman for Restless Beings denied any links to any terrorist organisation and said it would work with the regulator to allay any concerns. The spokesman said one of the charity’s delivery partners on the ground in Gaza had worked with Merciful Hands several years ago, but this contact ceased before any US sanctions. It was suggested that this might explain why some Merciful Hands videos bore the UK group’s branding. Restless Beings is facing questions over why workers wearing its uniforms have appeared in a number of promotional videos posted by Merciful Hands, and appear to be delivering aid alongside them. In a dossier submitted to the Charity Commission and seen by The Telegraph, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) provided links to promotional material for Merciful Hands in which some of those delivering aid on behalf of the organisation between 2022 and 2024 were wearing Restless Beings uniforms. The UK charity’s branding also appeared on aid packages and banners in the videos. Nura Barzaq, described as a public relations officer for Merciful Hands, also appeared in Restless Beings’ fundraising and promotional videos between 2022 and 2025. Restless Beings said that it did not employ anyone in Gaza, that she was not a registered volunteer, and that they could not speak for all of her charity work. A number of other individuals appeared in promotional material for both charities, the dossier alleges. Restless Beings describes itself as an “international human rights organisation and UK charity dedicated to supporting the world’s most marginalised communities through advocacy, activism and humanitarian response”. UKLFI asked the regulator to investigate whether charitable funds or resources had been transferred to, or used by, Merciful Hands, and whether Restless Beings had taken appropriate steps to vet their partner organisations. A Charity Commission spokesman said: “We take very seriously any alleged links between a charity and terrorism or unlawful extremism. “Following concerns raised about Restless Beings and its trustees’ oversight of relationships with a partner organisation, that is alleged to have links to a proscribed group, we have opened a regulatory compliance case to examine the matter further. “We will be engaging with the charity’s trustees as we gather more information.” A spokesman for Restless Beings said: “Restless Beings categorically rejects these false allegations. We welcome any inquiry by the commission and stand ready to assist in any way possible as we have always done. “We are confident that our work with communities across the world meets compliance standards and as a grassroots charity which is majority volunteer-led, this allegation comes as a major shock to our team and volunteers. “Small charities like ours work tirelessly to bring about some hope and support for children, women and the elderly across the world seeking refuge and living through conflict. “We hope that this comes to a quick resolution so we can continue to put our efforts and focus back on supporting communities that need humanitarian assistance during difficult global times.” Matters ‘demand thorough scrutiny’ A spokesman for UKLFI said: “We welcome the Charity Commission’s decision to open a regulatory compliance case following our complaint. “British donors giving money to humanitarian causes are entitled to know that their donations will not benefit terrorist organisations. Where a charity works with an overseas partner that has been identified by the US Treasury as controlled by Hamas’s military wing, there are extremely serious questions about due diligence, financial oversight and the trustees’ responsibilities. “Our investigation uncovered substantial evidence of shared personnel, joint operations and funding between Restless Beings and Merciful Hands. We believe these matters demand thorough scrutiny.” The Telegraph attempted to contact Merciful Hands. According to a 2025 statement from Israel’s National Bureau for Counter-Terror Financing: “The Merciful Hands association in the Gaza Strip is a wing of the designated terrorist organisation Hamas. “The organisation was established by the military wing of Hamas and is run by operatives of Hamas’s military wing. “The association was established with the aim of providing medical treatments to Hamas military operatives and it also treats wounded members of the terrorist organisation who have become disabled. “In addition, the association is used by Hamas’s military wing to raise funds under the guise of a charitable association.”