The Charity Commission for England and Wales has opened an investigation into Médecins Sans Frontières UK, also known as Doctors Without Borders, following a report raising concerns about alleged links between the medical charity and terrorist organizations operating in Gaza.
The report was submitted by UK Lawyers for Israel.
The Charity Commission, which regulates charities in Britain and Wales, confirmed to UKLawyers on Sept. 23 that it had “opened a regulatory compliance case to consider matters relating to the Charity [Doctors Without Borders] and will assess and consider the concerns you have raised as part of this case.”
A UKLawyers spokesperson said:
“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.
“Our investigation has identified deeply concerning evidence of individuals employed by Médecins Sans Frontières who have been linked to terrorist organizations.
“We have also raised serious questions about Médecins Sans Frontières’ relationships with Hamas- controlled institutions in Gaza, the safeguards governing the transfer of charitable funds and the responsibilities of its UK trustees,” the spokesperson said.
On Sept. 1, UKLawyers submitted concerns to the commission about Doctors Without Borders’ ties to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
UKLawyers’ report identified a number of individuals employed by Doctors Without Borders in Gaza who are alleged to have belonged to terrorist groups or publicly glorified terrorist attacks and the organizations responsible for them.
One case is that of Fadi Jihad Mohammed al-Wadiya, a Doctors Without Borders physiotherapist killed in Gaza in June, 2024.
The Israeli authorities identified al-Wadiya as a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative involved in developing the organization’s rocket capabilities.
Doctors Without Borders initially disputed the allegation.
But in February, 2026, Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s “military” wing published material identifying al-Wadiya as a commander and deputy head of its military manufacturing unit.
Doctors Without Borders then said it had no idea of his military involvement and that it would never knowingly employ anyone engaged in terrorist activity.
UKLawyers’ report raised concerns about other Doctors Without Borders’ employees, among them a driver identified by Israel as a Hamas sniper, and a doctor allegedly linked to the PFLP, who published social media posts extolling terrorist attacks.
The report further examined Doctors Without Borders’ cooperation with the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.
UKLawyers requested that the Charity Commission examine whether Doctors Without Borders UK’s trustees have exercised adequate due diligence over the overseas operational centers to which the charity transfers funds, and whether safeguards exist to prevent charitable donations from being diverted to terrorist organizations.
Médecins Sans Frontières UK, a registered charity, received more than £95 million ($125 million) in 2024, according to its trustees’ report, including £2.7 million ($3.5 million) in fundraising designated for projects in the Palestinian territories.
UKLawyers’ complaint also asked the commission to check the adequacy of staff vetting procedures and whether Médecins Sans Frontières UK complied with its obligations to report incidents involving potential terrorist connections.
“We hope that the Charity Commission will examine these matters thoroughly and establish whether Médecins Sans Frontières UK and its trustees have complied with their legal and regulatory obligations,” UKLawyers’ spokesperson said.
