Interpal’s Statement in Response to HSBC

We are aware that a letter concerning Interpal is being circulated on social media. The letter was received by one of our donors from HSBC informing them that the bank will no longer process Interpal standing orders.

HSBC has not specified why this decision has been taken, although it does point out, and rightly so, that donations to Interpal do not contravene “local” — British — law. This is more than disappointing for us, our donors and indeed our beneficiaries in the field given that HSBC has chosen the middle of a deadly pandemic and the month of Ramadan to block these payments. It is a time when British Muslim communities are at their most generous and ready to help people in desperate need who need even more support due to the coronavirus, Covid-19. It is a disgrace that a major bank should take such a decision at this time.

Interpal is a UK-registered charity which cooperates fully with the authorities at home and within its areas of operation; allegations of wrongdoing have been shown to be false following several independent investigations. The Trustees and dedicated staff of Interpal are extremely disappointed that a legitimate British charity is denied vital services to appease those who act on behalf of an alien state to prevent humanitarian aid getting to the Palestinians. Such efforts to politicise the charity sector are immoral and harmful to poor people at their most vulnerable. The management at HSBC should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for collaborating in this dishonourable practice.

Over the course of the past 25 years, Interpal has upheld the highest ethical standards in its humanitarian endeavours and complied fully with local and international law. Staff in the UK and overseas continue to work at full capacity to ensure that donations reach vulnerable families across our areas of operation whilst we adapt to the changes necessary to continue with our work and address ongoing campaigns attempting to block aid from reaching Palestinians in need. We call upon our donors and supporters to stand with us at this time and make every effort to ensure that attempts to damage the charity and harm our brothers and sisters in occupied Palestine and beyond do not succeed.

For anyone wishing to switch their standing order to an alternative method of payment, please call Interpal’s Donor Care Team on: 0208 961 9993 or email: donations@interpal.org