“Sanctioned Charity Boss Fights Back: Appeal Launched in Landmark Hamas Linked Case”

A UK charity director, Aozma Sultana, who was previously sanctioned for her alleged links to  Gaza Now, a media outlet accused by UK and US authorities of promoting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihadis, is now appealing her criminal conviction for failing to provide required financial information to the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). [globalinve…review.com]

Background to the Sanctions

• Sultana was sanctioned in 2024 following concerns that she and her companies, Aakhirah Limited and Al Qureshi Executives, had used fundraising activities to support  Gaza Now. UK and US authorities allege that  Gaza Now has endorsed or promoted Hamas-aligned narratives, and that funds raised for humanitarian aid may have been diverted or misused. [gov.uk], [standard.co.uk]
• As a designated person, Sultana became subject to a full asset freeze and was automatically disqualified from acting as a trustee or senior manager of any UK charity. [gov.uk]

Overview of Gaza Now, the US/UK-sanctioned entity.

Gaza Now: What We Know About the Sanctioned Entity

1. What Gaza Now Is

Gaza Now is an online media outlet/news network based in Gaza, operating as a digital platform that publishes political content, news, and commentary relating to the Israel‑Gaza conflict. It is led by Mustafa Ayash, identified by US authorities as its founder and director. [home.treasury.gov], [timesofisrael.com]

2. Why the US and UK Sanctioned Gaza Now

Alleged Support for Hamas

Both the US Department of the Treasury (OFAC) and the UK Treasury/OFSI have sanctioned Gaza Now for allegedly supporting Hamas and engaging in fundraising activities on behalf of the group, especially following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. [home.treasury.gov], [timesofisrael.com]

Authorities state that:

• Gaza Now actively disseminated Hamas propaganda,
• Solicited donations, including crypto donations,
• And in the US designation, was said to have “materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support” to Hamas. [trmlabs.com]

Fundraising Networks & Associated Entities

The sanctions were issued as part of a coordinated action targeting:

• Mustafa Ayash (founder of Gaza Now),
• Aozma Sultana, a UK charity director,
• Al‑Qureshi Executives and Aakhirah Limited—two UK companies that allegedly donated thousands of dollars to Gaza Now and advertised themselves as fundraising partners. [home.treasury.gov], [timesofisrael.com]

Both governments accuse Gaza Now and these partners of diverting charitable or public funds to benefit Hamas or Hamas‑aligned causes.

3. Cryptocurrency‑Based Fundraising

According to TRM Labs analysis:

• Gaza Now was heavily involved in using cryptocurrency for fundraising.
• Wallets linked to Gaza Now reportedly received over $4.3 million in crypto since first becoming active in 2021.
• Approx. $32,000 of those funds arrived after the October 7 attacks.
• The network has used multiple exchanges, mixers, and addresses associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). [trmlabs.com]

After Tether froze addresses linked to the organization, Gaza Now temporarily suspended public fundraising before restarting with restrictions. [trmlabs.com]

4. Official Designations & Legal Status

United States

• Gaza Now is designated under Executive Order 13224—the primary US counter‑terrorism sanctions authority.
• The US listing cites material support for Hamas and blocks all property/interests in US jurisdiction. [sanctions-finder.com]

United Kingdom

• The UK imposed a full asset freeze on Gaza Now’s associated individuals and entities under domestic counter‑terrorism powers.
• UK persons are prohibited from providing any funds or economic resources to affected individuals or organisations. [gov.uk]

The sanctions form part of broader multilateral actions from late 2023 to early 2024 to disrupt Hamas’s global financing networks. [home.treasury.gov], [trmlabs.com]

5. Alleged Behaviour According to Authorities

Authorities in both jurisdictions describe Gaza Now as:

• A terrorism‑promoting media network,
• Actively involved in post‑attack fundraising,
• A platform facilitating financial transfers that could benefit proscribed terrorist organizations. [gov.uk]

6. Key Individuals

• Mustafa Ayash – Founder of Gaza Now; sanctioned for directing the entity and facilitating fundraising. [home.treasury.gov], [timesofisrael.com]
• Aozma Sultana – UK charity director whose companies allegedly funnelled donations to Gaza Now. Sanctioned by both US and UK. [home.treasury.gov]

The Original Conviction

• After Aozma Sultana designation, OFSI issued mandatory requests for Sultana to provide detailed financial information. Instead, she responded to most questions with “do not remember” or failed to respond.
• Multiple follow-up requests were ignored, leading to her prosecution for breaching UK counter‑terrorism sanctions regulations. [rahmanravelli.co.uk]
• In August 2025, she was convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court and received a suspended sentence, avoiding immediate imprisonment but leaving open the possibility of jail if she reoffends or breaches conditions. [comsuregroup.com]

The Appeal

• As reported on 15 January 2026, Sultana has launched an appeal challenging the conviction.
• While the detailed grounds of her appeal remain restricted behind paywalled reporting, it is understood that she is contesting the finding that she failed to comply with her legal obligations to OFSI. [globalinve…review.com]

Wider Regulatory Context

• The Charity Commission continues to investigate whether funds raised by Sultana’s companies were used for proper charitable purposes.
• The regulator has expressed “serious concerns” about whether donations earmarked for humanitarian aid in Gaza were instead routed to  Gaza Now.
• A report on the inquiry is pending. [standard.co.uk]

Significance

• Sultana’s case is notable as part of the UK’s first wave of anti-terrorism sanctions enforcement, with regulators and prosecutors taking a stricter stance on financial transparency following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
• Her conviction was among the first under this strengthened regime. [lexology.com]

Sources

• UK Government / Charity Commission press release [gov.uk]
• Global Investigations Review: Charity director launches appeal… (15 Jan 2026) [globalinve…review.com]
• Comsure Group reporting on suspended sentence (Aug 2025) [comsuregroup.com]
• Rahman Ravelli legal analysis (Aug 2025) [rahmanravelli.co.uk]
• Lexology: UK secures first anti-terrorism sanctions conviction [lexology.com]
• The Standard (UK): Charity Commission inquiry into Sultana (Apr 2024) [standard.co.uk]
• US Treasury Press Release – Treasury Sanctions Hamas‑Aligned Terrorist Fundraising Network https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2213
• UK Government – New sanctions on persons linked to Hamas-supporting media network
  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-sanctions-on-persons-linked-to-hamas-supporting-media-network 
• Times of Israel – US, UK slap sanctions on individuals, companies who fundraised for Hamas
  https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-uk-slap-sanctions-on-individuals-companies-who-fundraised-for-hamas/
• TRM Labs – US and UK Sanctions Authorities Target Gaza Now for Supporting Hamas
  https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/us-and-uk-sanctions-authorities-target-gaza-now-for-supporting-hamas
• Sanctions Finder – Gaza Now designation details
  https://sanctions-finder.com/sanction/21924061-ab8a-4018-9665-2f282c20d3d8/GAZA%20NOW