Dear President von der Leyen,

Dear HRVP Kallas,

We wish to draw your attention to content in recent publications by MIFTAH, a Palestinian NGO funded by the European Commission that claims to combat gender-based violence.

According to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) database, in 2024-2028, the European Commission is providing MIFTAH-Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy with €1.2 million for “Promoting civic space and social accountability in Palestine.” According to the EU Financial Transparency System, MIFTAH received at least €765,895 from the European Commission in 2018-2023.

On February 10, 2024, MIFTAH falsely and outrageously accused Israel of committing a “reproductive genocide against Palestinians,” adding that it is “a practice that has been used since the Nakba” (meaning, since Israel gained independence in 1948).

The same day, MIFTAH published an eulogy for a former employee, Mousa Qous. Qous was also eulogized by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a EU-designated terror organization, which referred to Qous as a “comrade” and “combatant.” According to multiple media outlets, in 1991 Quous was sentenced to five-years in prison for his membership in the PFLP.

In addition, MIFTAH falsely accused Israel of deploying “sexual violence as a weapon of genocide” (October 2024). Indeed, since the Oct. 7th Hamas-orchestrated massacre, MIFTAH has repeatedly denied the systematic rapes and mutilation of Israeli women during the attacks, referring to them as “Israeli allegations and misinformation, used to justify this genocide.” (See, for instance, this February 22, 2024 statement from February 22, 2024.)

Moreover, in interviews and on her Twitter/X account, MIFTAH founder and board chair Hanan Ashrawi repeatedly denied Hamas’ atrocities, calling accusations of massacres, rape, and beheading of children “nonsense” and “an orchestrated smear campaign.”

On March 5, 2024, Ashrawi attempted to undermine a UN report that confirmed sexual violence during Hamas’ attack, tweeting: “’UN Report’ is based entirely on official Israeli sources! How credible is that form of hasbara? This totally invalidates the ‘report’.”

By disseminating false information and denying atrocities, MIFTAH undermines legitimate efforts to address sexual violence and perpetuates an anti-human rights narrative that obstructs progress towards peace in the region.

Continuing to support MIFTAH, notwithstanding previous incidents of documented antisemitism, clearly violates the European Commission’s commitment to moral principles, neutrality and integrity.

In light of these troubling developments, we urge the European Commission to reassess its partnership with MIFTAH.

Sincerely,

Professor Gerald Steinberg, President, NGO Monitor

Olga Deutsch, Vice President, NGO Monitor