Recent revelations have raised serious concerns about the activities of Gift of the Givers, South Africa’s internationally-recognised humanitarian organisation. It is alleged that Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, its founder, has been linked to a network of terror groups stretching from Iran to Gaza, including Hamas. Reports suggest that Gift of the Givers has been used as a conduit for funnelling money and resources to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, further worsening the crisis in the Middle East.
In 1991, Dr Sooliman established the South African branch of the Muslim Brotherhood Al-Aqsa Foundation, a charity ostensibly aimed at assisting the people of Palestine. However, it was later exposed by intelligence agencies as a front for Hamas. The Al-Aqsa Foundation, through its shared logistical infrastructure with Gift of the Givers, became a key player in Hamas' global fundraising network. The foundation was ultimately shut down by major South African banks after the US government flagged suspicious financial transactions. In the wake of the scandal, Sooliman handed over control of the Al-Aqsa Foundation to Sheikh Ebrahim Gabriels and soon after, Gift of the Givers was established in 1992.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation’s involvement in the Union of Good, a coalition of Islamic charities linked to Hamas, is also troubling. This coalition, founded by radical cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi in 2001, raised funds to support Hamas’ violent operations, including the construction of terror tunnels used to attack Israel. Despite the US government’s designation of the Union of Good as a terrorist-supporting entity under Executive Order 13224 of November 2008, Sooliman continued to support the foundation and, by extension, the coalition’s illicit activities.
The connection between Gift of the Givers and Hamas is not merely hypothetical. Sooliman has openly supported organisations that advocate for extremist ideologies. In a 2024 interview, he claimed that he follows Qur'anic law, disregarding international legal frameworks. He even cited the Qur'anic directive to “strike terror into your enemies”, signalling an endorsement of violence as a means of achieving political goals. This admission raises troubling questions about his awareness of where the funds from his charity are directed.
In October 2023, Sooliman participated in a rally that celebrated Hamas’ actions in the brutal attack on Israel. The rally, held under the banner of Iranian terror proxies, included anti-Semitic rhetoric and called for further violence against Jews. Sooliman’s presence at this rally, alongside extremists such as Sheikh Riad Fataar and members of the violent PAGAD group, paints a disturbing picture of a man who not only condones but seemingly actively supports extremism.
After the allegations of being linked to extremist groups in the Middle East and funding terror, Sooliman attempted to showcase his untouchable status by posting photos with prominent figures, including the head of fraud risk management at Standard Bank and top officials from the Gauteng Hawks. These images, seemingly aimed at asserting his power and connections, raise further concerns about the lack of transparency within Gift of the Givers. Given the mounting evidence of potential ties to terrorism, calls for an independent audit of the organisation’s finances are growing louder.
South Africa, a country with a history of supporting peace and justice, must consider the implications of hosting an organisation that may be indirectly or directly funding terrorism
While Gift of the Givers has undeniably carried out humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas raising R6bn in aid in 47 countries over its 32 years, the connection between Gift of the Givers and Hamas is not definitively proven in publicly available sources, though there are long-standing concerns about the ties between Sooliman’s organisation and groups linked to terrorism. This remains a point of controversy and the investigation needed into its founder's troubling ties to extremist ideologies cannot be ignored. Well-intentioned organisations can, at times, find themselves entangled with harmful forces, inadvertently enabling violence and terror. This can be the case with Gift of the Givers, where charity appears to be a vehicle for supporting an agenda of extremism, rather than fostering peace.
Hamas, a group that initially posed as a social welfare and charity organisation in 1987, has grown into one of the most violent terrorist organisations in the world, responsible for countless atrocities, including the October 7, 2023, massacre that killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapping of 250 in its terror attack on Israeli citizens. The group has made no secret of its intentions, openly calling for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews. The fact that Sooliman has continued to support entities linked to this ideology is deeply concerning.
South Africa, a country with a history of supporting peace and justice, must consider the implications of hosting an organisation that may be indirectly or directly funding terrorism. Even if Gift of the Givers has provided aid in good faith, its associations with violent extremism cannot be overlooked. The global community must be vigilant, and the calls for transparency and accountability must be heard.
If and Gift of the Givers truly have nothing to hide, they should welcome an independent investigation into their financial operations. The organisation’s alleged links to terrorism put not only the Middle East at risk but also undermine the credibility of South African foreign policy. Charities operating in the name of humanitarian aid must be held to the highest standards of accountability to ensure that their funds do not inadvertently contribute to global instability.
Good intentions alone are not enough. When charity becomes a vehicle for extremism, the consequences are catastrophic. Gift of the Givers must prove that its operations are not funding violence, but rather fostering genuine peace. The world is watching and so should we.
Kamohelo Chauke is a community and student activist at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he has held multiple leadership positions, including serving as a Student Representative Council (SRC) member from 2021 to 2023.
For opinion and analysis consideration, email Opinions@timeslive.co.za
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