NGO Monitor research has uncovered that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – an internationally designated terrorist organization – has substantial ties to at a number European-funded Palestinian NGOs. Research shows that, in some cases, the NGOs were founded by the PFLP itself. In others, PFLP members serve as staff, on the boards, and in key decision making and financial roles at the NGOs. These include Addameer, Al-Dameer, Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), Health Work Committees (HWC), Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), Samidoun, Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC), and Union of Palestinian Women Committees (UPWC).
Many of Al-Dameer's current and former officials, employees, and board members have links to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel.
Several of Addameer’s current and former employees, as well as lawyers that work for Addameer, have links to the PFLP. As an organization, Addameer regularly provides legal assistance to Palestinians accused by Israel of PFLP membership or activity on behalf of the terror group, such as PFLP General-Secretary Ahmed Sa’adat.
UHWC is identified by Fatah as a PFLP “affiliate” and in a 1993 USAID-engaged audit report (by the Democratic Institutions Support Project) as “the PFLP's health organization.” Numerous UHWC staff members, founders, board members, and senior and subordinate staff members have ties to the PFLP terror group.
PCHR has multiple links to the PFLP terror organization, designated as such by the EU, the US, Canada, and Israel.
Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P) is a Palestinian NGO that claims to promote Palestinian children’s rights. However, many current and former officials, employees, and board members have links to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Numerous UAWC staff members, founders, board members, general assembly members, and senior staff members have ties to the PFLP terror group. UAWC is identified by Fatah as an official Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) “affiliate” and by a USAID-engaged audit as the “agricultural arm” of the PFLP. According to academic scholar Glenn E. Robinson, UAWC was founded in 1986 by “agronomists loosely affiliated with the PFLP.”
Numerous HWC staff members, founders, board members, general assembly members, and senior staff members have ties to the PFLP terror group.
UPWC is identified by Fatah as a PFLP “affiliate” and by a USAID-engaged audit as the “PFLP’s women’s organization.” Numerous UPWC staff members have ties to the PFLP terror group.
On May 6, 2021, Israeli security officials revealed that massive amounts of funding from European governments for supposedly humanitarian projects in the West Bank and Gaza were diverted to the PFLP terrorist organization.
According to NGO Monitor’s analysis, at least eleven candidates on the PFLP list are also current and former officials of Palestinian NGOs that receive funding from the EU and European governments.
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