THE leader of the Island’s Jewish congregation has said it is “not the correct time” for Jersey Overseas Aid to donate money to the people of Gaza, claiming that the funds will be diverted to terrorist group Hamas.

Stephen Regal, president of the Jersey Jewish Congregation, has written an open letter to Chief Minister Kristina Moore after it was confirmed that £200,000 of aid would be provided to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

His claim has been refuted by International Development Minister Carolyn Labey on behalf of the JOA, who cited “robust controls” in place to ensure aid went to intended beneficiaries.

The JOA Committee said the money would be used to meet the “most urgent needs of 1.26 million people in Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem”.

The donation came amid escalating violence in the Middle East, with thousands killed as a result of deadly attacks by Hamas terrorists during an incursion into Israel on 7 October, followed by retaliatory air strikes on Gaza by Israel.

Mr Regal said that while he applauded the decision to donate funds to the stricken people of the region, he added that it was “not the correct time” to make such a donation, while Gaza was governed by Hamas.

Mr Regal claimed there was “every indication” that the money would be diverted to Hamas – which is designated a terrorist organisation by the UK government – to support the group’s “reprehensible activities”.

Aid should be split between both sides of the divide, Mr Regal argued, with thousands of people in both Gaza and Israel having been displaced from their homes.

International Development Minister Carolyn Labey, who is chair of JOA, has defended their decision, saying that all funds channelled via the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs were guided by “core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence”.

In a response to Mr Regal’s letter to the Chief Minister, Deputy Labey cites “robust controls” that are in place to ensure aid reaches intended beneficiaries and is not diverted for unauthorised uses.