JERUSALEM — On March 17, 2026, Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma told parliament that there is no information supporting claims that Hamas exerts systematic control over foreign NGOs operating in Gaza. The statement came in response to parliamentary questions referencing research published by NGO Monitor.
However, the minister’s assertion has been challenged by publicly available documentation, including reports from Gaza-based organizations and prior findings linked to Dutch-funded aid frameworks.
At issue are two NGO Monitor reports. One outlines allegations of Hamas influence over international NGOs in Gaza. The second examines Dutch government funding for such organizations. In his official response, Sjoerdsma stated that “there is no information available that supports the allegations of NGO Monitor.”
NGO Monitor disputes this conclusion. The organization points to open-source material, including an annual report published in 2016 by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. According to that report, Hamas authorities in Gaza regularly pressured NGOs, requiring “concessions regarding their work” and conducting audits of NGO files without legal justification.
The PCHR report was issued during a period when the organization was participating in a project funded by the Dutch government. Analysts say this detail is significant because it indicates that concerns about Hamas interference were documented within a framework linked to Dutch-supported aid.
NGO Monitor argues that such admissions align with its broader findings. Its report, titled “Puppet Regime,” describes a pattern in which Hamas authorities exert leverage over NGOs operating in Gaza. The organization states that this influence can include access to sensitive information and indirect control over program implementation.
Professor Gerald M. Steinberg, president of NGO Monitor, said the evidence warrants stronger oversight. “NGO Monitor has presented the Netherlands with conclusive, open-source evidence highlighting the urgency of credible independent vetting procedures for Dutch-backed NGO aid projects in Gaza,” Steinberg said in a statement. “Proof of Hamas coercing and redirecting NGO resources to its terror aims is now undeniable.”
Steinberg added that governments funding humanitarian projects in Gaza have a responsibility to ensure accountability. “Rather than evading accountability, the Dutch government has a clear obligation to implement strict oversight protocols for taxpayer-funded aid in Gaza and other territories where terror groups are known to exploit funding,” he said.
The issue of oversight has also been raised in connection with the Dutch Relief Alliance, a consortium of aid organizations receiving Dutch government support. NGO Monitor has criticized the alliance’s screening processes, arguing that existing mechanisms may not sufficiently prevent diversion of aid.
Particular attention has focused on the role of Oxfam Novib, a member of the alliance. According to NGO Monitor, Oxfam Novib has continued to fund the Union of Agricultural Work Committees despite findings from a Dutch government audit linking the group to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The Dutch government has previously acknowledged concerns related to oversight of NGO funding in conflict zones. However, Sjoerdsma’s recent response suggests that officials do not view the NGO Monitor findings as substantiated.
Observers note that the broader debate reflects ongoing challenges in delivering humanitarian aid in areas governed by armed groups. International donors often rely on local partners to implement programs, which can create vulnerabilities in environments where authorities exercise extensive control over civil society organizations.
For pro-Israel advocacy groups and analysts, the issue carries broader implications. They argue that insufficient oversight risks enabling the diversion of humanitarian resources, potentially strengthening entities designated as terrorist organizations by Western governments.
At the same time, humanitarian organizations emphasize the importance of maintaining aid flows to civilian populations in Gaza, particularly given ongoing economic and infrastructure challenges. Balancing these priorities remains a central tension for policymakers.
NGO Monitor has called on the Dutch government to revisit its position and conduct an independent review of funding mechanisms. The organization maintains that the available evidence, including statements from Gaza-based NGOs themselves, demonstrates the need for enhanced scrutiny.
As the debate continues, the issue is likely to remain under examination within Dutch political institutions and among international stakeholders involved in humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
