This information brings up a big question: How can aid groups do their jobs in dangerous, unpredictable places—and what happens now that everyone is watching them so closely?
Humanitarian organizations play a vital role in addressing crises in some of the world’s most dangerous environments, providing essential relief. From emergency supplies and healthcare to education and security, vulnerable communities around the world are supported by organizations of international standing. However, a newly uncovered government spreadsheet appears to show that, along with delivering much-needed relief, many organizations were closely monitored.
The document, uncovered by Al Jazeera, details how Israel monitored over 150 international aid and humanitarian organisations. An internal Israeli spreadsheet from 2013 lays out personal data about charities and what work they are involved in. More critically, internal notes classify charities as “critical of Israel,” “involved in anti-Israel activity,” or, in one case, “active in BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) global activities.”
What the Leaked Document Shows
The spreadsheet, made in October 2013, had more than 150 international charities and their operational information. A separate comments section evaluated 15 major humanitarian organizations on their perceived positions on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The organizations mentioned in the document were Oxfam, World Vision International, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Norwegian Refugee Council, DanChurchAid, Medico International, Defence for Children International, Première Urgence Internationale, and several other international NGOs.
According to the document, some organizations were described as:
“Critic of Israel”
“Participating in anti-Israel campaigning”
“Deeply involved in BDS” “Engaged in worldwide BDS activities”
Many of the comments reportedly cited research published by NGO Monitor, an Israel-based organization that scrutinizes the activities of international NGOs.
How NGOs Responded
Some organizations the report referenced dismissed its findings. A spokesperson for Oxfam said to Al Jazeera that “it seems to be based on allegations, rather than evidence or a holistic understanding of what it does.” The organization insisted it does “not endorse or campaign for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and it does not take political positions.
Its operations are humanitarian and based on universal humanitarian principles and international law.” Several of the groups added that they were engaged in work concerning humanitarian aid and human rights, not political campaigning.
Why 2013 Matters
Experts say the timing of the document is significant.
The spreadsheet was created in October 2013, when the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement was gaining international attention. During that period, several institutions and public figures had begun supporting various forms of boycott or criticism related to Israeli settlements.
Researchers interviewed by Al Jazeera believe the document provides an early look at how authorities tracked international organizations before Israel introduced a 2017 law restricting entry to many foreign supporters of the BDS movement.
Some legal experts described the spreadsheet as the beginning of a broader system used to monitor organizations viewed as political opponents.
What This Means for Global Relief Efforts
The report notes how, particularly for humanitarian organizations, helping communities caught up in armed conflict adds an even higher layer of difficulty. International NGOs may have to grapple with legal and political complexities, alongside the security realities on the ground, while providing life-saving food aid, healthcare, education, and emergency services. Moreover, in countries where the stakes are particularly high, and security is paramount, organizations may even come to the attention of the authorities as a result of their efforts – despite the fact, for example, that humanitarian work is supposed to be politically neutral and concerned with civilians only. It suggests new lines of debate about the balance between national security strategies and the humanitarian principles which guide and support the impartial work of relief agencies.
Lessons for NGOs
Whether an NGO works internationally or locally, transparency has become more important than ever.
Organizations can strengthen their credibility by:
- Maintaining detailed project documentation.
- Keeping accurate records of funding and expenditures.
- Clearly documenting humanitarian activities and project approvals.
- Following donor compliance requirements.
- Publishing transparent reports on programs and impact.
- Communicating their humanitarian mission consistently.
Strong documentation not only supports donor reporting but also helps organizations respond to questions about their work when operating in politically sensitive environments.
NGO Implementation Examples
Many international humanitarian organizations already follow practices designed to strengthen accountability and transparency, including:
- Recording aid distribution and beneficiary data.
- Conducting independent financial audits.
- Maintaining detailed monitoring and evaluation reports.
- Keeping clear records of project approvals and implementation.
- Publishing annual reports for donors and the public.
These practices help demonstrate that humanitarian assistance is delivered in accordance with organizational mandates and donor requirements.
Looking Beyond the Headlines
It is time to start anew and to revisit ongoing tensions in between the governments, humanitarian civil society, and the legal sector over security and its potential consequences to humanitarian principles, based on a leaked document and a report which, while supported by governments’ general domestic policies in overseeing NGOs activities, continue to underline aid agencies rights as politic-ally neutral in their working areas, and as not necessarily complicit actors in humanitarian crisis zones. Nevertheless, the humanitarian report stresses the need to continue not to sideline all the constraints NGOs have to deal with in a crisis zone apart from the delivery of aid to maintain the confidence they have towards donors and beneficiaries as far as governance transparency and operational oversight is concerned.
Final Thoughts
The files offer an unparalleled insight into the surveillance of more than 150 international humanitarian organizations at a critical juncture in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
For the global NGO sector, it’s more than one paper. This is a reflection of the increasingly complex environment in which humanitarian organizations are working and highlights the importance of transparency, accountability, and meticulous documentation when working in conflict zones.
As humanitarian needs grow worldwide, NGOs will likely face more scrutiny and pressure, making good governance and credible reporting as critical as the aid they deliver.
