The Charity Commission has confirmed that it has opened a regulatory compliance case concerning Médecins Sans Frontières (UK), following a report submitted by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) raising concerns about alleged links between the international medical charity and terrorist organisations operating in Gaza.
In an email to UKLFI dated 23 September 2026 a member of the Charity Commission’s High Risk Compliance team, confirmed:
“We can confirm that the Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case to consider matters relating to the Charity and will assess and consider the concerns you have raised as part of this case.”
The Commission’s confirmation follows UKLFI’s submission on 1 September 2026, raising concerns about the charity’s relationships with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
UKLFI’s report identifies a number of individuals employed by MSF in Gaza who are alleged to have been members or operatives of terrorist organisations, or to have publicly glorified terrorist attacks and the organisations responsible for them.
One of the most significant cases concerns Fadi Jihad Mohammed al-Wadiya, who worked as an MSF physiotherapist and was killed in Gaza in June 2024.
Following his death, the Israeli authorities identified al-Wadiya as a PIJ operative involved in developing the organisation’s rocket capabilities. MSF initially disputed the allegation.
However, in February 2026, PIJ’s own military wing published material identifying al-Wadiya as a commander and deputy head of its military manufacturing unit. MSF subsequently stated that it had had no indication of his military involvement and that it would never knowingly employ anyone engaged in military activity.
UKLFI’s report also raises concerns about other MSF employees, including a driver identified by the Israeli authorities as a Hamas sniper and a doctor alleged to have been associated with the PFLP’s medical network and to have published social media posts glorifying terrorist attacks.
The report further examines MSF’s institutional relationships in Gaza, including its cooperation with the Hamas-run Ministry of Health and the provision of medical supplies to that Ministry.
UKLFI has asked the Charity Commission to examine whether MSF UK’s trustees have exercised adequate due diligence and supervision over the overseas operational centres to which the charity transfers funds, and whether appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent charitable resources from being diverted to terrorist organisations.
MSF UK is a registered charity which raises substantial funds for international medical operations. According to its 2024 trustees’ report, it received more than £95 million in income during that year, including £2.7 million in restricted fundraising income designated for projects in the Palestinian territories.
UKLFI argues that the charity’s financial and governance relationships with MSF’s international operational centres make it important to establish what oversight its UK trustees exercise over activities undertaken in Gaza.
The complaint also asks the Commission to examine the adequacy of staff vetting procedures and whether MSF UK has complied with its obligations to report serious incidents involving potential terrorist connections.
The Charity Commission has not announced any findings of wrongdoing by MSF UK, and the opening of a regulatory compliance case does not establish that the charity or its trustees have breached charity law.
However, the Commission’s confirmation means that UKLFI’s concerns will be considered as part of a formal regulatory compliance case concerning the charity.
A UKLFI spokesperson commented:
“We welcome the Charity Commission’s confirmation that it has opened a regulatory compliance case concerning Médecins Sans Frontières UK and will consider the serious concerns raised in our report.
“MSF is one of the world’s most prominent medical charities, and its humanitarian work depends on the confidence of donors that their contributions are being used exclusively for legitimate charitable purposes.
“Our investigation has identified deeply concerning evidence of individuals employed by MSF who have been linked to terrorist organisations. .
“We have also raised serious questions about MSF’s relationships with Hamas-controlled institutions in Gaza, the safeguards governing the transfer of charitable funds and the responsibilities of its UK trustees.
“Providing medical care to civilians in conflict zones is vital, but humanitarian objectives do not remove the obligation to undertake rigorous due diligence and ensure that charitable funds, facilities and personnel are not used to support terrorism.
“We hope that the Charity Commission will examine these matters thoroughly and establish whether MSF UK and its trustees have complied with their legal and regulatory obligations.”