European governments directly and indirectly provide upwards of $125 million annually to political advocacy NGOs active in the Arab-Israeli conflict. In turn, these NGOs inform EU policy, to the detriment of European policy-making. Many of the funding processes are secretive, lacking transparency and accountability.
Publicly available evidence strongly suggests that the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq – designated as a terrorist entity by Israel in October 2021 – has established a European entity to circumvent sanctions.
On October 12, 2024, Belgium-based NGO Hind Rajab Foundation announced it had submitted a complaint to the ICC to issue arrest warrants against 1000 Israeli soldiers. The Hind Rajab Foundation was officially registered in Belgium in September 2024. Long-time anti-Israel activists Dyab Abou Jahjah and Karim Hassoun serve as the NGO’s chair and secretary,
Following the October 7th Hamas massacre, the Swedish government commissioned a review of its funding for Palestinians, whitewashing Sweden-funded Palestinian NGOs that justified and celebrated the October 7th attacks, denied Hamas’ atrocities, and continued to advance antisemitism.
On February 12, 2024, the Dutch Court of Appeal ruled that the Netherlands must cease transfer of US-owned F-35 fighter jet components to Israel. The appeal was initiated by four pro-BDS NGOs – Oxfam Novib, PAX, Rights Forum, and Amnesty International – which had sued the Dutch government to stop the transfers and had lost in District Court.
NGOs funded through German development programs (Entwicklungshilfe) with the stated aim to promote “human rights” and “international law” have failed to condemn these blatant violations of human rights and humanitarian principles.
In 2022, Al-Haq Europe and Bisan International Center were registered in Belgium as non-profit associations:.
On December 1, 2023, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) published the results of an internal review, commissioned by the Swedish government, of all ongoing funding to Palestinians.
On October 25, 2023, Switzerland Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced the suspension of funds to 11 NGOs (6 Palestinian and 5 Israeli) pending “an in-depth analysis of the compliance of these organizations’ communications with the FDFA’s Code of Conduct and anti-discrimination clause, to which external partners are subject.”
The report offers a set of practical recommendations for Germany aimed at assisting policy makers in expanding and implementing existing anti-terror regulations, so that more robust vetting can be introduced in the context of development aid.
This report provides representative examples of the activities of major Samidoun chapters and key activists in Europe and North America. This includes supporting the PFLP and its members, justifying the use of violence, and incitement against the state of Israel.
Copyright 2025 Institute for NGO Research - R.A. 58-0465508. All Rights Reserved.
