An internal government spreadsheet obtained by Al Jazeera reveals that Israeli authorities systematically compiled data on international humanitarian organizations operating in the region. The document highlights how specific non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were scrutinized for their political stances and alleged links to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.What Details Were Discovered in the Leaked Document?The leaked file, which was accessed via an Israeli ministry website, contained detailed entries on more than 150 international charities. While the document recorded basic operational facts—such as addresses, executive contact info, and areas of activity—it also contained a dedicated "comments" column. Out of the tracked entities, at least 15 prominent groups received specific notes labeling them based on their political views.Among those flagged were France-based Première Urgence Internationale (marked as a "critic of Israel"), Geneva's Defence for Children International ("involved in anti-Israel campaigning"), and Spain's Mundubat ("highly involved in BDS"). Major global agencies like Oxfam were singled out as being "active in global BDS efforts" and accused of encouraging organizations to join violations of international law by backing unapproved humanitarian projects in the occupied West Bank.Who Targeted These Humanitarian Groups and Why?The file originated from the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs (formerly the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Social Services). Analysts and academic experts point out that the data collection took place at a time when the BDS movement was gaining strong global momentum. Israel was beginning to feel the political and economic pressure of boycott campaigns and sought to map out connected networks.The government sought to cross-reference organizational structures, executive personnel, and advocacy reports to assess which aid groups posed a perceived threat to Israeli policy. Experts suggest that this intensive monitoring served as a preliminary phase to lay the framework for later legislative measures, including a law passed years later that officially barred pro-BDS activists from entering the country.How Have International Aid Agencies Responded?The targeted humanitarian organizations have strongly pushed back against the labels and allegations contained in the government file. Aid agencies like Oxfam stated that the annotations in the document reflect subjective interpretations and politically driven assertions rather than an objective, factual evaluation of their work.Representatives from these NGOs emphasized that they operate under strict global compliance and legal standards to deliver critical humanitarian relief to civilians. Many emphasized that documenting human rights abuses or calling for international adherence to international law does not equate to partisan campaigning, criticizing the official file as an attempt to delegitimize essential civil society work.
