A recently revealed document is fueling worries about British humanitarian aid to Gaza, hinting that officials were aware funds could indirectly benefit Hamas, the governing group in Gaza.

While UK officials refute this, critics insist important questions are unanswered.

The document, from November 2022, details the UK’s humanitarian strategy in the Palestinian territories. One part mentions a UNICEF cash assistance program in Gaza coordinated with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD).

According to NGO Monitor, “The MoSD in Gaza is linked to the governing authorities, meaning UK aid might directly or indirectly support Hamas, a banned group.”

The report also stated that the British consulate-general in Jerusalem, which reportedly wrote the document, considered this a “reputational” risk, worrying about public perception rather than legality if the arrangement became public.

Anne Herzberg, legal advisor at NGO Monitor, told Digital the wording is important.

“This was most shocking,” she said. “The government knew funds could reach Hamas but cared more about appearances than the risk of supporting terrorism.”

Herzberg said NGO Monitor found the Foreign Office document, originally from November 2022, during an investigation into aid in Gaza.

In a statement to Digital, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated that no funding reached Hamas.

“We strongly deny this. The UK doesn’t fund Hamas agencies in Gaza,” an FCDO spokesperson said. “The is coordinated with the Ministry of Social Development in Ramallah, run by the Palestinian Authority. UK funding was given through UNICEF directly to vulnerable Gazan families.”

The FCDO emphasized Hamas is a banned terrorist group under UK law, “and funding it is a crime.” It added the UK assessed UNICEF and tracks funding to recipients.

But Herzberg said the November 2022 document and UNICEF’s March 2024 update celebrating its “strengthened partnership with the Ministry of Social Development” in Gaza suggest inconsistencies.

Yona Schiffmiller, research director at NGO Monitor, told Digital, “The UK document refers to the Gaza-based MoSD. If the program was only with Ramallah, it’s unclear why Gaza risks were flagged.”

UNICEF’s March 2024 report states over 540,000 Gazans received support after the Oct. 7 attacks, adding the MoSD partnership “helped access the social registry and target the most vulnerable families.” NGO Monitor points out the MoSD in Gaza is led by Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas politburo member sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2024.

Herzberg said the report claims “aid diversion was central for the October 7th massacre, including tunnel construction, military installations, and stockpiling supplies. After the attacks, Hamas continued to commandeer aid, creating a black market.”

“Even after Oct. 7, they refuse to address diversion,” Herzberg claimed. “There’s no transparency, and the UN is thwarting Israeli, U.S., and allied efforts to improve aid.”

She referred to the recent U.S.-backed initiative to establish a new aid distribution system in Gaza.

The NGO Monitor report details how the MoSD is run by senior Hamas officials, including Ghazi Hamad, who praised the Oct. 7 massacre and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in November 2024. Mohammed Al-Araeer, another top MoSD figure, has glorified terrorist attacks and praised Hamas commanders.

A recent investigation by Israel’s website, “Shomrim,” and revealed that Hamas has built a fundraising network inside the UK. Senior Hamas operatives with British citizenship have established charities that raise millions annually, some reaching the group’s military wing.

Udi Levi, formerly head of the Counter-Terror Financing Division in the Mossad, told Israel’s Channel 12, “Britain is becoming the central country transferring funds to Hamas, including after Oct. 7.”

The watchdog also raised concerns about other UN agencies in Gaza, noting at least 12 are active. Herzberg said it’s unclear if similar diversion risks exist across those agencies.

“We all know how UNRWA has been taken over by Hamas, but what about the others? Is the same thing happening? These questions are unanswered,” she said.

The controversy comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions. Last month, the UK suspended trade negotiations with Israel, citing humanitarian concerns. Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticized Israeli actions in Gaza and called for restored aid and electricity.

NGO Monitor says the debate highlights the need for a new international mechanism to oversee aid delivery in Gaza, bypassing Hamas-controlled institutions and ensuring aid is protected from exploitation.

“The issue isn’t just legal — it’s moral,” Herzberg said. “Western donors should take every precaution possible. So far, that hasn’t been the case.”

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