The fallout from a controversial Israeli real estate fair held in north London has continued to grow, with the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) submitting formal complaints to both the UK's Charity Commission and the Metropolitan Police over the event's links to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank .
The controversial 'Great Israeli Real Estate Event' took place at Edgware United Synagogue on Sunday despite mounting criticism from campaigners, lawyers and politicians, who argued that the event promoted property in settlements considered illegal under international law.
More than 100 parliamentarians had previously written to the foreign secretary and the mayor of London calling for action, while the ICJP issued a legal notice ahead of the event.
In a statement shared with The New Arab on Monday, the ICJP said it had formally requested that the Charity Commission open a regulatory compliance case into the synagogue and its trustees.
"As a registered charity in the UK, the Edgware United Synagogue's hosting of an event that promoted property located in Israeli settlements is a flagrant breach of its obligations as a charity and engages fundamental questions concerning trustee conduct, the proper administration of charity assets, the public benefit requirement, and the maintenance of public trust and confidence in charity," the organisation said.
The ICJP noted that the UK government regards Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal, a position reinforced by the International Court of Justice 's 2024 advisory opinion, which found Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories unlawful.
"It is thus essential that the Charity Commission opens an urgent regulatory compliance case into Edgware United Synagogue's use of its charitable premises and charitable resources to facilitate a commercial event in promoting property located in Israeli settlements in the oPt," the statement added.
Órlaith Roe, the ICJP's Public Affairs and Communications Officer, said the organisation believed it had gathered clear evidence that the event involved the marketing of property in settlements.
"We now have concrete evidence of what many feared: a registered UK charity facilitated the marketing of property settlements that the UK government itself recognises as unlawful and a 'flagrant violation' of international law," Roe said.
She warned that failing to act could damage public confidence in the charity sector and create the perception that international law is applied selectively.
"There must be consequences for this conduct. Otherwise, the public is entitled to conclude that there is one standard for some violations of international law and another for those affecting Palestinians," she added. Evidence sent to Met war crimes team The complaint to the Charity Commission came alongside a separate legal submission to the Metropolitan Police.
In a second statement on Monday, the ICJP said it had sent evidence to the Met's War Crimes Team alleging that properties in illegal Israeli settlements were marketed at the event.
According to the organisation, materials gathered from the fair showed that properties in the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim were advertised by Tivuch Shelly Real Estate Agency.
Ma'ale Adumim is one of the largest Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and forms part of the highly controversial E1 settlement project , which would effectively divide the West Bank into separate areas and undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state.
The project has faced repeated criticism from the UK and other governments.
The ICJP also said that I.L.A.N Estates and Investment, another company promoted at the event, advertises property in the illegal settlement of Efrat, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has said organisers disputed claims that the event was intended to sell property in the occupied West Bank. However, the ICJP said the evidence it collected contradicted those assertions.
The event itself became the focus of large demonstrations on Sunday, drawing hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters, including activists from the Palestinian Youth Movement and Jewish Anti-Zionist Action.
The demonstration was marred by clashes between protesters and counter-protesters, with activists accusing Zionist groups of initiating violence. At least 14 people were arrested, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Several pro-Palestine protesters later accused police of targeting those who had been attacked rather than those responsible for the violence.