Israel file shows scrutiny of global NGOs over alleged BDS links

An internal Israeli government file has revealed how officials collected data on more than 150 charities and humanitarian organisations, with a small number singled out in comments for their perceived positions on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The spreadsheet, obtained online via the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, was compiled in 2013 and included basic contact details, leadership names and areas of work. It also contained remarks such as "critic of Israel", "involved in anti-Israel campaigning" and "highly involved in BDS".

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The document identified France-based Premiere Urgence Internationale as a "critic of Israel", Geneva-based Defence for Children International as "involved in anti-Israel campaigning", and Spain-based Mundubat as "highly involved in BDS", referring to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. It also suggested that Oxfam was "active in global BDS efforts" and encouraged non-governmental organisations to join "violations of international law" by supporting projects in the occupied West Bank without Israeli approval. Oxfam said the comments appeared to reflect allegations and interpretations rather than an objective assessment of its work.

In its response, Oxfam rejected the suggestion that it supports or promotes BDS and said it operates under rigorous compliance and accountability standards. The charity also said it upholds international law and stated that Israeli settlements violate international humanitarian law. Tania Hary, executive director of the Israeli NGO Gisha, said the document had "nothing to do with security" and argued it was further proof that the government had been tracking organisations carrying out work for Palestinians living under occupation.

The revelations are significant because they point to the way Israeli authorities have monitored international aid groups that work in the occupied West Bank and elsewhere in the Palestinian territories. Humanitarian organisations often depend on access, permits and coordination with local authorities to deliver aid, making official scrutiny potentially consequential for their operations. The document also highlights the long-running political sensitivity around BDS, a campaign that seeks economic and political pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.

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The spreadsheet was accessed through the ministry website and appears to have been part of a wider effort to catalogue charities and their activities. The ministry was then known as Israel's Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Social Services. The file did not only list organisations that were criticised in the comments column, but also many others whose details were recorded without any political annotation.

The case sits within a broader pattern of tension between Israeli officials and international non-governmental organisations working in the occupied territories. Such groups have frequently faced disputes over access, funding, advocacy and whether their work is seen as humanitarian assistance or political campaigning. The document adds a new layer to that debate by showing that internal categorisation extended beyond operational details to include political judgments about some charities.

What remains unclear from the file is how widely the information was used inside government, whether it affected policy decisions, or whether the organisations named were informed at the time. The ministry did not respond to the request for comment cited in the report. Further questions now centre on whether similar records exist for other years and whether the practice continued beyond the 2013 spreadsheet.

#Israel #NGOs #BDS #humanitarianorganisations #occupiedWestBank

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