Since the ‘ceasefire’ in Gaza entered into force on October 11, 2025, officials have reported 1,168 Palestinians killed and 3,734 injured, as Israel relentlessly continues its genocide in Gaza.[1]
What is the response of our leaders? Are meaningful sanctions placed on Israel? Are arms sales to Israel ended? Are arrest warrants for war criminals issued? Is the righteous cause of Palestinians right to return, and the end to the occupation, called for in Parliaments across the world? The answer; a resounding no.
Instead, Israel is allowed to continue its genocide and ethnic cleansing with the continued financial and diplomatic backing of the West.
Here in the UK, complicity remains extensive and extends beyond the egregious supply of weapons to Israel, facilitated by our government and delivered by the private sector, to donations for illegal Israeli settlements from the charitable sector.
This includes donations from 32 registered charities in England and Wales, while money continue to flow from the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (JNF-KKL), a registered charity in Scotland, to projects run by the KKL in Israel.
Labour MP, Melanie Ward, recently wrote about donations flowing from 32-charities in England and Wales to illegal Israeli settlements, stating: “The existence and growth of Israeli settlements in the state of Palestine is globally recognised as one of the major impediments to peace. Any activity which supports the maintenance and the expansion of Israeli settlements – such as that funded by these 32 ‘charities’ – is extremist and not of benefit to the UK public. Further, it risks being materially and financially used in pursuance of breaches of international law.”[2]
Staunch Zionist, and ex-Prime Minister, Keir Starmer was forced to comment on the issue at Prime Ministers Questions in June stating that: “Settlements are a flagrant breach of international law, and no UK charity should be supporting them.”[3]
The Charity Commission is to work with the UK Foreign Office to provide guidance for registered UK charities viewed to be linked to illegal settlements.[4]
It remains to be seen how influential this ‘guidance’, and the rhetoric coming from the Labour Party, will be in having any meaningful impact on stopping registered UK charities supplying donations to illegal Israeli settlements.
However, political and media pressure is mounting, and here in Scotland we must seize upon that momentum to send a clear message to the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) – end the shameful charitable status granted to the KKL (Scotland).
To this day, the purpose of KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust and KKL Israel remains the same: to acquire Palestinian land by any means necessary and hold it for Jews only. In 1961, the KKL-JNF signed a Covenant with the Israeli government to maintain a system of apartheid. The KKL-JNF enjoys quasi-governmental status and has significant influence and representation on the Israel Land Authority, which manages 93% of state land and 13% of land ‘owned’ by KKL-JNF.
Amnesty International has written extensively about the role of KKL-JNF in ‘Israel’s Apartheid Against the Palestinians’ from before 1948 until today, as have other Palestinian, Israeli, and international academics and human rights organisations. It is not a secret what KKL-JNF stands for.
In 2025, as reported in The National, the KKL (Scotland)’s income rose by 1730% from £92,933 to £1.7 million, with the ‘charities’ accounts stating: “in the second half of the financial year the company received two donations of £1,500,000 and £100,000 respectively for specific KKL projects in Israel”.[5]
KKL Israel funds numerous projects across the occupied West Bank and in the Golan Heights – acting as a key financial pillar of Israel’s ever-expanding network of illegal settlements.[6]
The increased pace with which these settlements are being development is escalating the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. This financial backing, and the expanding rate of settlement building, is emboldening Israeli settler violence. In the West Bank Palestinians suffer daily attacks. There have been at least 15 murders in 2026, including the recent killings of Ahmad Adel Abu Mukho, 26, and Odeh Abdul Rahim Odeh Farakhneh, 53, shot by Israeli forces in Deir Jarir on 19th July.[7]
The time for rhetoric and meaningless ‘guidance’ is long-gone. The Palestinian People need firm action, and they need it today. It is totally shameful that the KKL (Scotland) is a registered charity in Scotland. In 2024, Canada revoked the KKL-JNF’s tax-exempt charity status; it is time for Scotland to do the same. OSCR must act – tell them to do so here: Charity link to war crimes and apartheid – Action Network
[1] Israeli Attacks Kill Palestinian as Gaza Reports 3,795 Ceasefire Violations – Palestine Chronicle (20th July)
[2] Charities in England and Wales ‘donate millions to illegal Israeli settlements’ | Charities | The Guardian
[3] Guidance planned as Starmer says no charity should be supporting illegal settlements
[4] Guidance planned as Starmer says no charity should be supporting illegal settlements
[5] Questions as Israel-linked Scottish charity’s income spikes by 17x | The National
[6] Questions as Israel-linked Scottish charity’s income spikes by 17x | The National
[7] Israeli fire kills two Palestinians during settler assault on West Bank town | Middle East Eye
