The “Tahaqaq” Observatory debunked fraud allegations in the fundraising campaign for the reconstruction of Al-Nasr Children’s Hospital in Gaza

رُبا دغشمدققة معلومات - تحقق

The Palestinian observatory “Tahaqqaq” debunked the circulating allegations after verifying them through direct communication with the relevant authorities. It investigated the details and fundraising mechanisms for Al-Nasr Children’s Hospital in Gaza and found that claims of the campaign being fraudulent are misleading and lack any credible evidence.

The Director of the Media Department at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Nour Al-Din Ashour, denied the circulating allegations, confirming to “Tahaqqaq” that no official statement was issued by the ministry labeling the campaign as fraudulent. He also provided the observatory with a video showing Saleh Al-Ja’frawi alongside the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr. Yousef Abu Rish, during the conclusion of the campaign supporting the reconstruction and equipping of Al-Nasr Children’s Hospital.

Regarding the fundraising mechanism, Dr. Omar Al-Thuwaini, Deputy Director General of the Kuwait Relief Society, stated to Tahaqqaq that the society obtained an official permit from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Social Affairs to launch the campaign. He added that the funds were collected through a licensed Kuwaiti company specializing in managing charitable campaigns to ensure the platforms could handle the high demand.

Al-Thuwaini also pointed out that there are signed contracts and agreements between the society and the company, ensuring that funds are transferred to the society’s account through legal and official channels. He emphasized that no money was sent to Palestine or to any personal accounts of influencers. Instead, the Palestine Al-Ghad association, which is accredited by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was designated to receive the funds and implement the project in coordination with the relevant authorities in Gaza.

Al-Thuwaini also stressed that the new hospital will be located in Gaza City, next to Dr. Abdel Aziz Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, to ensure integration in medical services. He clarified that construction will begin as soon as the situation in the sector stabilizes and humanitarian aid starts entering.

Saleh Al-Ja’frawi: The campaign was conducted with transparency and under official supervision

For his part, Saleh Al-Ja’frawi told Tahaqqaq that the campaign was carried out in collaboration between the Kuwait Relief Foundation and the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. He mentioned that he, along with three of his colleagues, was selected to remain in the live broadcast room until the goal of raising $10 million for the reconstruction and equipping of Al-Nasr Children’s Hospital was achieved.

Al-Ja’frawi also clarified that the donation link was clear and publicly announced to donors, explicitly indicating its affiliation with the Kuwait Relief Foundation, which debunks the allegations of mismanaging funds. He confirmed that all donations were transferred to the account of the Kuwait Relief Foundation, and no amount was sent directly to Gaza, whether in dollars, dinars, or shekels.

Al-Ja’frawi pointed out that when the campaign ended and the financial goal was achieved, the studio was attended by Dr. Yousef Abu Rish, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr. Mohamed Zaqout, the Director of Hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and Dr. Munir Al-Barsh, the Director General of the Ministry of Health, which confirms the transparency of the campaign and the presence of official supervision.

The Ministry of Health in Ramallah denied any involvement in the fundraising campaign without accusing it, however, of fraud

Amid the Palestinian political division and the existence of two health ministries, one in Ramallah and the other in Gaza, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah issued a statement on March 11, 2025, confirming its lack of responsibility for any fundraising campaign in support of the Gaza Strip. The statement emphasized that the ministry is not involved in any campaigns carried out by activists via social media. It also warned against the use of its name or logo in any fundraising campaigns, holding the violating parties legally accountable.

Although the statement denied the ministry’s involvement in the campaign, it did not label it as fraudulent or question its credibility. Instead, it urged the public to exercise caution and verify information through the ministry’s official platforms.

It is worth noting that the Kuwait Relief Society launched a major public fundraising campaign to rebuild Al-Nasr Children’s Hospital in the Gaza Strip, after it was destroyed during the Israeli war in November 2024. The campaign received widespread engagement on social media platforms, with several Arab celebrities and influencers participating in promoting it, which contributed to quickly achieving its financial goal.

In contrast, these allegations are part of an Israeli smear campaign using the hashtags “Bollywood” and “Gaza Wood.” This campaign aims to deny the crimes of the occupation and cast doubt on the suffering of Palestinians by claiming that they fabricate their injuries and tragedies to gain international sympathy.