Human rights activists in the Arab region report that Western donors are pulling funding from civil society groups that criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza, or failing to support them when they do. This move has left many human rights advocates feeling bitter and unsure about how to interact with Western partners in the future.
Israel’s assault on Gaza has prompted a response from several Western countries, with Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden suspending bilateral development aid programs in Gaza and the West Bank, resulting in a loss of $139 million in funding. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs also suspended funding to several Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations.
The decision to cut funding has sparked controversy, with some attributing the move to pressure from right-wing groups. NGO Monitor, an organization that monitors Palestinian civil society groups, has been vocal in support of these decisions and claims that research was cited by Swiss parliamentarians when calling for funding to be cut from Israeli human rights groups.
Many Arab civil society, media, and humanitarian organizations rely on Western donors and partners, but feel let down by Western silence on the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Some say Western organizations have prioritized their support for Israel over their commitment to regional press and civil society organizations.
Civil society organizations are also losing faith in UN institutions, which have either not spoken out against Israeli atrocities in Gaza or have only done so after considerable delay. The lack of response from UN bodies and Western countries is raising concerns about the eroding credibility of human rights work in Palestine and the wider Arab region. The global community’s failure to support Palestinians is a continuing source of frustration for activists.