The Charity Commission is examining a statement made by the Campaign Against Antisemitism that called the government’s suspension of 30 arms export licences to Israel “obscene”.

The regulator said that it was assessing concerns raised about the charity’s statement, which was published after the Foreign Office announced in September that it was suspending the export licences because of a risk the arms may be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

On its website, the CAA said: “The British government is broadcasting that Western allies should not be supplying Israel with the arms that it needs to fight to save the hostages and defeat Hamas. This is obscene.”

The charity said that the government’s actions have “all been hostile to the Jewish state”.

It said the decision came weeks after David Lammy, the foreign secretary, announced the government was resuming funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, after the previous government suspended funding earlier this year following allegations that some UNRWA staff had been involved in the 7 October Hamas attack.

“Weapons sales to the Jewish state have been suspended because of a supposed ‘clear risk’ that they may be used in ways that breach international law; we are interested to see whether no such risks were identified in relation to the funding to UNRWA,” the CAA said.

The Charity Commission said it was assessing the statement after the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell raised concerns with the regulator.

McDonnell, who was recently suspended from the Labour Party for voting against the two-child benefit limit, wrote to the commission to raise concerns about the statement and whether it aligned with the charity’s stated objectives.

In the letter, seen by Third Sector, McDonnell said: “The Campaign Against Antisemitism has engaged in highly political and contentious public attacks on the government and individual government ministers.

“I was shocked at the tone of these public attacks coming from what is listed by the commission as a charity.”

McDonnell said he sought legal advice from Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, who said: “There being no evidence of antisemitism by the UK government or others targeted by CAA, the Charity Commission should consider afresh whether the actions of CAA violate its charitable status.”

A spokesperson for the regulator said: “The commission is aware of new concerns raised regarding the Campaign Against Antisemitism. 

“These are currently being assessed to determine if there is a role for the commission, and any next steps.”

Last year, the regulator opened a compliance case into the charity, with reports suggesting that the case related to political campaigning and came in response to complaints made by Jewish Voice for Labour.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been contacted for comment.