Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, has hit back at several organisations and publications that have accused him of funding terrorism.
The allegations were first levelled against him when they were raised in a recent open letter from Lawrence Nowosenetz, a Jewish human rights lawyer, and subsequent reports in the media. Since then, several other Zionist publications and writers have come out making similar claims.
These claims assert that Sooliman, through the Gift of the Givers, may be indirectly financing Hamas by supporting organisations blacklisted by the US government and have sparked a public backlash.
Nowosenetz’s letter, published last month, alleged that Sooliman’s charitable efforts extend to the Union of Good, an umbrella group designated as a terrorist entity by the US Treasury in 2008. He also linked Sooliman to the South African branch of the Al Aqsa Foundation, which was founded in 1991 and accused him of being aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood. According to Nowosenetz, these associations suggest that Gift of the Givers, through its donations, could be aiding Hamas.
Last week, Sooliman was also attacked on social media by South African musician The Kiffness. On X, formerly Twitter, The Kiffness, whose real name is David Scott, said: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Dr Sooliman is a radical Islamist under the guise of a humanitarian and Gift of the Givers is the front for a far more sinister agenda.”
The post had social media uses fuming, with many offering their support to the Gift of the Givers and Sooliman. One X user commented: “The irony of The Kiffness calling Dr Imtiaz Sooliman a radical Islamist is that if The Kiffness ever had to find himself in a situation where he needed humanitarian aid, Gift of the Givers would be first on the scene irrespective of his comments.”
Another X user said: “All the years of work and selfless help Dr Sooliman has done to help all needy South Africans…. must now be discarded because the Kiffness thinks standing up to Zionism makes someone an evil radical Islamist? Absolutely delusional.”
Sooliman hit back. He thanked the critics who have levelled these allegations against him, saying that they have raised the profile of his organisation and garnered more support for the Gift of the Givers.
“Gift of the Givers would like to thank lawyer Lawrence, Times of Israel, Feinberg and the SA Jewish Report, Alec, Marika, Biznews and farmer Willem for the incredible escalation in our profile both locally and internationally on platforms we didn’t even know existed, resulting in a flood of current and new donors wanting to support our various causes,” Sooliman said.
He said these parties have benefited the Palestinian cause immensely with their accusations against him.
“We thank you for this. Will we be opportunistic in requesting you to use your Zionist machinery to assist with more in-depth coverage, it will be really good for the Palestinian and other causes. We certainly don’t want to lose the momentum you have initiated. You have brought us so many new friends, Jewish, Afrikaner, Christian and others that embraced us because of your wonderful efforts. We deeply appreciate your contribution and look forward to increased support through your networks,” said Sooliman.
The controversy intensified with the involvement of more prominent South African figures, including former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who publicly supported Dr Sooliman. Madonsela praised his humanitarian work, aligning his efforts with those of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who famously advocated for peace and justice in the Middle East.
“We support you, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. You join Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu in loving both Jews and Palestinians and standing for truth and justice regarding the odious nature of genocide no matter who perpetrates it and helping humanity no matter who needs help,” she wrote on social media.
The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa also threw its weight behind Sooliman, decrying the allegations as part of a larger effort to silence critics of Israel’s policies towards Palestinians.
In a statement, the organisation said that Sooliman’s commitment to humanitarian aid places him at odds with narratives that aim to justify Israeli actions in Gaza.
“His crime is standing in the way of the Zionists’ intended goal of ethnic cleansing Gaza, in part, through the use of starvation as a weapon of war,” they said.
