UK Muslim charity under terror probe over alleged Hamas ties after senior figure arrested in US case
A UK-based Muslim charity is under investigation by counter-terror police and the Charity Commission over alleged links to Hamas. A senior figure associated with one of the charity’s partner organisations was arrested in Britain in a US terrorism-financing case, triggering the investigation.The Al-Khair Foundation, which reported more than £74 million in income in the year to July 2025, became the subject of a statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission on Friday.
Counter Terrorism Policing London has also opened an investigation and searched two properties in Croydon. No arrests have been made in the UK investigation.The developments followed the July 31 arrest in Britain of Mohammad Yousef Hasna, a Turkish national whom US authorities accused of conspiring to provide money and supplies to Hamas.
The US Department of Justice has not publicly named the organisation it describes in its case as a “sham charity”, while the Al-Khair Foundation says Hasna was employed by one of its implementing partners rather than by the foundation itself.According to the US case, Hasna allegedly used his position at a purported humanitarian organisation to coordinate with senior Hamas figures over fundraising and the movement of goods into Gaza.
Investigators allege that he and a senior Hamas official discussed sending truckloads of purported humanitarian aid to warehouses controlled by Hamas before distribution in Gaza.The US allegations also centre on encrypted messages allegedly exchanged between Hasna and Ghazi Hamad, described by investigators as a senior Hamas leader.
The messages allegedly showed discussions about fundraising, commodities and using the charity's name and warehouses to facilitate deliveries. US investigators further allege that Hasna altered photographs and documents to conceal Hamas's alleged role as the beneficiary.The case has put a spotlight on the scale of Al-Khair's operations.
The Telegraph reported that the charity's income had risen from about £31.3 million to £74.8 million after the October 7 Hamas attacks, while Charity Commission data showed it received more than £130 million in donations and legacies during 2024 and 2025. The charity has also claimed more than £9 million in Gift Aid over five years, according to the Telegraph.The Charity Commission said its inquiry will examine how closely Hasna was connected to Al-Khair, whether trustees properly vetted international partners and whether the charity adequately monitored how its funds were used overseas.
The regulator has also restricted certain financial transactions by the foundation without its prior consent.The investigation also follows earlier scrutiny of the charity's work in Gaza. The Telegraph reported that the Israeli military said in 2024 that one of Al-Khair's workers, Hossam Mansour, had been killed while allegedly serving as a Hamas platoon commander.
Al-Khair disputed that characterisation, describing Mansour as a senior aid worker involved in humanitarian work.Al-Khair has denied wrongdoing and said it is cooperating with the authorities. The foundation said its work in Gaza has included food, hot meals, clean water, medical assistance, shelter materials and support for orphans and families.
It said it maintains governance and compliance systems intended to ensure that aid reaches its beneficiaries.Hasna, meanwhile, remains in UK custody pending extradition proceedings to the United States, where he faces charges including conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to finance terrorism and financing terrorism.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, according to the US Justice Department.The UK investigation is separate from the US criminal case. Counter Terrorism Policing said its inquiries are continuing and that it remains in contact with the Charity Commission and US authorities. The Charity Commission stressed that it cannot investigate criminal matters itself and would refer evidence of criminal activity to police.Catch the latest World News and Live updates.
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