Activity

Background

• The Netherlands funds numerous Israeli and Palestinian NGOs directly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Embassy in Tel Aviv, and the Representative Office in Ramallah (NRO), and indirectly through Dutch organizations, Oxfam-Novib and the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO).
• According to the Dutch MFA’s “Human Rights Report 2023,” the Netherlands provided over €2 million in direct and indirect funding to human rights NGOs operating in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
• Revealing a lack of transparency, in 2021, the new Dutch government Development Aid Portal removed the names of “implementing organisation(s)” on multiple project in areas designated as “Palestinian territories.” The Development Aid Portal does not display names of implementing partners or NGOs receiving Dutch funding on multiple projects in areas designated as “Palestinian territories.”
• In January 2022, the Dutch Foreign Minister announced that the Netherlands will cease all funding to the Union of Agricultural Works Committee (UAWC). According to the Minister, an “external investigation of the UAWC made it sufficiently plausible that there had been ties at individual level between employees and board members of UAWC and the PFLP for some time.” The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is a designated terrorist organization by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel. (See more on UAWC below.)
• In June 2016, the Dutch Parliament passed a resolution calling for “the ending of funding to organizations that directly or indirectly pursue a boycott or sanctions against Israel.”

Developments Following October 7th

• Following the October 7th atrocities, the Netherlands pledged an additional €10 million in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. According to the Minister of Development, these funds are intended for food, water, and medical care for Gaza’s inhabitants. The Dutch contribution is earmarked for unnamed NGOs and UN organizations, and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

Direct Funding

Funding via Representative Office in Ramallah (NRO)

• Highly politicized organizations funded through the Representative Office in Ramallah(NRO) include the Union of Agricultural Works Committee (UAWC), Al Mezan, Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Gisha, Bimkom, Yesh Din, Society of St. Yves, and the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development.
• According to the Dutch MFA 2019 Human Rights Report (Mensenrechtenrapportage), NRO provided €415,625 to “Various confidential projects” in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

NRO Funding to Palestinian NGOs

• Al Mezan
  • In 2023-2025, Al Mezan received an unspecified amount from NRO for “Civil Society Organizations for Inclusiveness, Democratic Governance and Human Rights- phase II.”
  • Al Mezan is highly active in anti-Israel lawfare campaigns, exploiting courts and international legal bodies to seek arrest warrants against Israeli government officials, file lawsuits against companies and governments doing business with Israel, and lobby for cases against Israelis at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • A number of Al Mezan officials and employees are members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Hamas – both designated as terrorist organizations by the US and the EU.  Additionally, Al-Mezan officials and board members speak at PFLP events, and many have posted material on their social media accounts promoting terror groups or utilizing antisemitic imagery and rhetoric. For more information on Al Mezan’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Al Mezan Center For Human Rights’ Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.”
  • In October 2020, in an response to a Parliamentary question about ongoing Dutch Funding to Al Mezan, the Dutch Minister of Minister of Foreign Affairs appeared to excuse vulgar hate speech of Al Mezan employees by claiming that “these are personal messages, not statements on behalf of Al Mezan, and that employees have freedom of expression.” According to the statement, “Al Mezan has promised that the messages will be removed and has again reminded employees of internal agreements, whereby on the one hand freedom of expression is respected, but employees promise not to express opinions that are contrary to human rights.”
• Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR)
  • In 2023-2027, ICHR received €1.86 million from NRO.
  • ICHR regularly collaborates with and has demonstrated its support for terror groups designated by the EU, US, Canada and Israel, such as Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
• Society of St. Yves
  • In 2023-2025, Society of St. Yves received an unspecified amount from NRO for “Civil Society Organizations for Inclusiveness, Democratic Governance and Human Rights- phase II.”
  • According to Arabic language media, in 2011, Raed Halabi, Society of St. Yves’ “head of the advocacy department,” was convicted and sentenced to 26-months in prison for “organizational activity in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine” (PFLP) – a designated terrorist organization in the US, EU, Canada, and Israel. Electronic Intifada reported that in 2004, Halabi was sentenced to two-years in prison.  In May 2017, Society of St. Yves reported that “the Israeli authorities arrested St. Yves’ advocacy and field officer, Mr. Raed Halabi.”
• Union of Agricultural Works Committee (UAWC)
  • In 2013-2021, UAWC received approximately €11.7 million from the NRO’s Water Resource Management program 2017-2020 (LWRM).
    • According to the heavily redacted documentation of the project,  “The [PA] ministry of agriculture (MOA) plays a crucial role in the project,” and “is co-chairing the Steering Committee” and its staff “participates in all tenders’ technical evaluation.”
  • UAWC is identified by Fatah as an official “affiliate,” and by USAID-engaged audit as the “agricultural arm” of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel. According to academic scholar Glenn E. Robinson, UAWC was founded in 1986 by “agronomists loosely affiliated with the PFLP.” For more information on UAWC’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Union of Agricultural Work Committees Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.”
  • On October 22, 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defense declared UAWC a “terror organization” because it is part of “a network of organizations” that operates “on behalf of the ‘Popular Front’.”
  • On July 20, 2020, the Dutch government announced it was freezing funding to UAWC over the NGO’s close links to the PFLP. Foreign Minister Stef Blok and Development Minister Sigrid Kaag revealed that an internal government audit concluded that Dutch funds were used to pay the salaries of two UAWC employees – Samer Arbid and Abdel Razeq Farraj – currently standing trial for their alleged roles in an August 2019 bombing that murdered an Israeli civilian. In August 2021, the Dutch government allocated €26,439 to a private company to conduct a further external review of UAWC. 
  • In January 2022, the Dutch Foreign Minister announced that the Netherlands will cease all funding to the Union of Agricultural Works Committee (UAWC). According to the Minister, the investigation determined that UAWC had 34 employees with ties to the PFLP in 2007-2020, 12 holding leadership positions in the terrorist group concurrent to their employment at UAWC. In reporting to parliament, Ministers de Brujin and Knapen added that “the large number of board members of UAWC with a dual mandate is particularly worrying.”
    • On August 30, 2020, the PFLP referred to Arbid as a “prisoner and commander,” and “one of the heroes of the Bubeen operation” — referring to the August 2019 bombing.
  • On February 2, 2017, diplomats from the NRO met with senior officials from UAWC to sign an $11.5 million grant agreement. The Dutch contingent was led by its “Head of Cooperation,” Henny de Vries.
    • As seen in a picture posted on the Representative Office’s Facebook page, UAWC representatives to the signing ceremony included individuals currently standing trial or incarcerated due to their involvement in PFLP activities, as well as another official associated with jailed PFLP leader, Ahmed Sa’adat.
• AMAN Coalition
  • In 2017-2020, the AMAN Coalition received €1.4 million from the NRO.
  • Aman accuses Israel of “stealing,” having “racist goals,” “Judaisation,” and “repeated attempts to ignite a sectarian religious conflictwith the aim of controlling the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its precincts.”

NRO Funding to Israeli NGOs

• Breaking the Silence
  • In 2023-2025, Breaking the Silence received an unspecified amount from NRO for “Civil Society Organizations for Inclusiveness, Democratic Governance and Human Rights- phase II.”
  • In 2018, Breaking the Silence received funding for “bilateral support.” One of Breaking the Silence’s stated objectives for this project is efforts to encourage “diaspora Jewish communities to voice their opposition to the occupation.” Breaking the Silence will also use the Dutch funds to “increase opposition in the international arena to Israel’s prolonged occupation of the oPt” through challenging “key international public figures…to respond.”
  • Breaking the Silence makes sweeping accusations based on anecdotal, anonymous, and unverifiable accounts of often low-ranked soldiers. These “testimonies” lack context, are politically biased, and erase the complicated reality of asymmetrical warfare. In addition, they reflect a distorted interpretation of the conflict in order to advance the political agenda of Breaking the Silence activists, thereby fueling the international campaigns against Israel.
• B’Tselem
  • In 2023-2025, B’Tselem received an unspecified amount from NRO for “Civil Society Organizations for Inclusiveness, Democratic Governance and Human Rights- phase II.”
  • In 2018, B’Tselem received funding for “bilateral support.” Among the activities supported by the Dutch funding is a “report on the role of the Israeli Supreme Court.”
  • According to Dutch government documentation, “B’Tselem regularly refers to the Supreme Court as one of the main mechanisms that permits the ongoing occupation and human rights violations by granting judicial legitimacy to Israel’s policies.”
  • B’Tselem actively pursues its political agenda of “international consequences” and international pressure on Israel via lobbying of the UN and European governments.
  • In January 2021, B’Tselem launched a discriminatory and hateful campaign, under the banner of “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid.” As part of the campaign, B’Tselem attacked Israel’s role as a haven for the Jewish people (the Law of Return) and used the phrase “from the river to the sea” – echoing long-standing Palestinian terminology for the destruction of Israel. (Read NGO Monitor’s analysis: “From the “River to the Sea”: B’Tselem’s Demonization Crosses the Line.”)
• Gisha
  • In 2023-2025, Gisha received an unspecified amount from NRO for “Civil Society Organizations for Inclusiveness, Democratic Governance and Human Rights- phase II.”
  • Gisha employs “apartheid” other international legal rhetoric to promote a partisan political and ideological agenda.
• Bimkom
  • In 2023-2025, Bimkom received an unspecified amount from NRO for “Civil Society Organizations for Inclusiveness, Democratic Governance and Human Rights- phase II.”
  • Bimkom regularly files petitions in an attempt to alter government policies related to spatial planning, planning procedures, and Bedouin communities.
• Yesh Din
  • In 2023-2025, Yesh Din received an unspecified amount from NRO for “Civil Society Organizations for Inclusiveness, Democratic Governance and Human Rights- phase II.”
  • In 2018, Yesh Din received funding for “bilateral support.” According to the grant agreement, Yesh Din is expected to ensure that the “Issue of impunity of ISFP [Israeli security forces personnel] in cases of offences committed against Palestinians in the West Bank and in Jerusalem remains on international agenda and in discussions between GOI [Government of Israel] and foreign government representatives. Increased international awareness on systemic impact of law enforcement failure for Palestinian communities, forcible home entries and the human rights situation in the West Bank and in Jerusalem (emphases added).
  • Yesh Din is central to the allegations that Israeli investigative and court systems are unable or unwilling to investigate allegations of wrongdoing and is part of a wider “lawfare” strategy of pressing “war crimes” cases against Israeli officials in foreign courts and in the International Criminal Court (ICC). These campaigns use faulty information and skewed statistics to promote their political claims.

Funding via Embassy in Tel Aviv

• The Embassy in Tel Aviv does not publish details on NGO funding. According to information submitted by Israeli NGOs to the Israeli Registrar of Non-Profits, the Embassy allocated NIS 849,940 to Israeli NGOs from 2018-2021.
• Beginning in 2019, all funding to Israeli NGOs was allocated via the NRO (see above) under the project RAM CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION SUPPORT.

Lack of Transparency

• The Development Aid Portal does not display names of implementing partners or NGOs receiving Dutch funding for multiple projects in areas designated as “Palestinian territories.” 
• Project in PALESTINIAN ADMIN. AREAS (2024-2026)
  • Sectors: Human Rights
  • Budget: €3 million
  • Implementing organisation(s):DONOR COUNTRY-BASED NGO
• Sawasya III – Reinforcing equal access to justice for all Palestinians (2024-2028)
  • Sectors: Legal and judicial development
  • Budget: €23.25 million
  • Implementing organisation(s):UNDP
• Project in PALESTINIAN ADMIN. AREAS (2020-2025)
  • Sectors: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
  • Budget: €2.6 million
  • Implementing organisation(s):Donor Country-Based Ngo Group
• Project in Ramallah (2018-2024)
  • Sectors: Legal and judicial development
  • Budget: €17.37 million
  • Implementing organisation(s): United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
•  Project in Ramallah (2020-2023)
  • Sectors: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
  • Budget:  €328,116
  • Implementing organisation(s): No organisation name specified
• Project in Ramallah (2020-2021)
  • Sectors: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
  • Budget: €152,000
  • Implementing organisation(s):  Multiple Parties
• Project in Ramallah (2019-2021)
  • Sectors: Multisector aid
  • Budget: €5.95 mln
  • Implementing organisation(s):  No organisation name specified
• Project in Palestinian admin. Areas (2017-2021)
  • Sectors: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
  • Budget: €999,480
  • Implementing organisation(s):  Donor Country-Based Ngo Group
• Project in Palestinian admin. Areas (2021-2024)
  • Sectors: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
  • Budget: €299,750    
  • Implementing organisation(s): No organisation name specified
• Project in Palestinian admin. Areas (2021)
  • Sectors: Sectors not specified
  • Budget: €377,218    
  • Implementing organisation(s): Developing Country-Based Ngo Group
• Project in Ramallah (2020-2021)
  • Sectors: Human Rights
  • Budget: €158,891
  • Implementing organisation(s): No organisation name specified

Indirect Funding

• Large-scale indirect funding for political advocacy NGOs is channeled through Dutch aid-organizations, most frequently Oxfam-Novib. Other aid-organizations include: Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO), Kerk in Actie (KIA), PAX, and the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid). NGOs in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza have received over €13 million since 2012 through this form of indirect funding from the Dutch government.

SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations)

• In 2017-2023, SOMO received €1.8 million from the Netherlands for “Countering corporate strategies for creating, maintaining and exploiting human rights.”
• SOMO’s research claims to “expose[] the corporate impunity that characterises the business-as-usual approach of many multinationals operating in occupied Palestine. Through activities like tourism and the unlawful exploitation of Palestinian natural resources such as stone, gas, and agricultural products, these corporations actively support Israel’s illegal settlement economy.”
• In October 2023, in the aftermath of the brutal Hamas atrocities, SOMO published a statement claiming, “The grave abuses we are watching unfold did not start after 7 October. For decades, the Palestinian people have been subjected to systemic abuse, apartheid and war crimes under cover of a blanket of impunity granted by third states.”
• In June 2024, SOMO and Al-Haq Europe commissioned a legal opinion to “examine the legal consequences of the ICJ’s order for Third States and corporations.” The opinion recommends implementing an “Arms embargo… Sanctions …. [and] Criminal and administrative proceedings” against Israel.
• In November 2023, SOMO, alongside European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Al-Haq, and the Rights Forum, filed a criminal complaint with the Dutch Public Prosecutor accusing Booking.com of “laundering funds obtained from the commission of war crimes” and being “instrumental in facilitating the criminal Israeli settlement enterprise.” In May 2024, Booking.com rejected the allegations and affirmed, “we will permit listings anywhere in the world unless legally prohibited by the domestic laws…Currently, there are no applicable laws that prohibit listing properties in Israeli Settlements in the West Bank.”
• In May 2024, SOMO initiated a campaign, including  a legal briefing, calling for “an embargo on jet fuel and crude oil” against Israel.

Oxfam-Novib

• Oxfam-Novib received €23 million from the Dutch government (2022-2023).
• As of July 2024, Oxfam-Novib’s projects in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza listed as “active” have combined budgets of approximately €10 million.
• Oxfam Novib is the Dutch affiliate of Oxfam international, an “international confederation of 17 organizations networked together in 92 countries.” Within the Oxfam umbrella, Oxfam Novib plays a leading role in the Arab-Israeli conflict, including demonization and other anti-Israel campaigns.
• In November 2023, Oxfam Novib, alongside Amnesty International, PAX, and the Rights Forum, announced they were suing the Netherlands for “continuing to export arms to Israel.” The lawsuit demanded “the immediate cessation of the supply of parts for Israeli F35 fighter planes.” 
  • A Dutch court rejected the lawsuit, noting that the government, “‘weighed the relevant interests’ before agreeing to the delivery of parts.” It stated that the “Dutch government [has] a large degree of freedom when it comes to weighing political and policy issues in deciding on arms exports.”
• Oxfam-Novib supports the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR),Adalah, Al Mezan, Bimkom, Breaking the Silence, Coalition of Women for Peace, Culture and Free Thought Association, Emek Shaveh, Gisha, HaMoked, MIFTAH, Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC), Palestinian Medical Relief Society, Palestinian Working Women Society for Development, Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), The Coalition for Accountability and Integrity – AMAN, Union of Health Work Committees (UAWC), Women’s Affairs Center (WAC), Women’s Centre for Legal Aid a Counselling (WCLAC), Women’s Studies Center, Yesh Din, as well as other “undisclosed” partners.

PAX

• PAX Netherlands is the Dutch affiliate of Pax Christi, a “Catholic peace movement with 120 member organisations.” Within the PAX umbrella, PAX Netherlands plays a leading role in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including demonization and other anti-Israel campaigns. 
• In 2022, total budget was €19 million; total expenses were €16.6 million.
• According to its annual report, Netherlands contributed over €12 million to PAX in 2022.
• Other donors include Switzerland, European Union, United States, Germany, Misereor, Caritas, National Postcode Lottery, Sigrid Rausing Trust, and Open Society Institute.
• In November 2023, PAX, alongside Amnesty International, Oxfam Novib, and the Rights Forum, announced they were suing the Netherlands for “continuing to export arms to Israel.” The lawsuit demanded “the immediate cessation of the supply of parts for Israeli F35 fighter planes.” A Dutch court rejected the lawsuit, noting that the government, “‘weighed the relevant interests’ before agreeing to the delivery of parts.” It stated that the “Dutch government [has] a large degree of freedom when it comes to weighing political and policy issues in deciding on arms exports.”
• In April 2023, PAX hosted a podcast marking the “Nakba,” an Arabic word used to describe the establishment of the State of Israel as a “catastrophe.” PAX repeated this term to declare Israel as inherently illegitimate and to push for a Palestinian “right of return” that would result in the elimination of the Jewish state.
• In February 2022, PAX published a report titled “Does apartheid exist in Israel and occupied Palestine?” calling for the Netherlands to “commit to international investigations into apartheid in Israel and occupied Palestine” and to “draw up a list of effective countermeasures against violations of international law by the State of Israel. This should include both measures which can be taken unilaterally and measures taken in EU context with like-minded countries.”

Kerk in Actie

• Kerk in Actie (KIA) runs projects co-financed with the government, but does not detail which ones. KIA partners include Rabbis for Human Rights, Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) and Sabeel.

Funding via the United Nations

Funding to the World Food Program

• In 2024, the Netherlands provided $5.5 million to the World Food Program for projects in Gaza.
  • According to UN-OCHA’s Financial Transparency Service database, these projects appear to be part of the World Food Program’s Food Security Sector.
  • According to documents published by the Food Security Sector, the Sector distributes funds and partners with NGOs, including UAWC, Ma’an Development Center, and Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC).

Dutch Funding to Israeli and Palestinian NGOs