Refugee Charity Set to Receive Prize Money Accuses Israel of Genocide

A refugee charity slated to receive a portion of the prize money from "The Celebrity Traitors" winner Sebastian Croft has publicly accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Choose Love, an organization supporting refugees and displaced people, is set to receive half of Croft's £83,000 prize.

The charity's stance on the conflict is evident on its website, where it states that Palestinians "are still experiencing a genocide." This position was also highlighted in an open letter signed by various celebrities, including Gary Lineker, which called on the government to halt arms sales to Israel and to end complicity in the situation in Gaza.

Actor Sebastian Croft, 24, and comedian Romesh Ranganathan, 48, won the series, which airs on the BBC. Croft expressed his support for Choose Love, stating he used to volunteer there and that the funds would primarily assist queer refugees and displaced individuals, whom he described as "the best organisation."

The involvement of a politically active charity has drawn criticism. Tory MP Jack Rankin commented that it is concerning when "activists nakedly misuse charitable designation to peddle their extremist agenda." He further stated that it is "doubly shocking that our licence fee... is shovelled in directions opposite to the national interest," and that the BBC, which is bound by strict impartiality guidelines, should not be funding political activists.

Choose Love has also previously supported legal challenges against the UK government's immigration policies, including the plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The charity acknowledged covering "staff costs" for Asylum Aid, an organization that led a High Court challenge against the Rwanda scheme, which was ultimately ruled lawful.