Israel Accuses Four Spanish NGOs of Funding Hamas

An Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism report has accused four Spanish non-governmental organizations of directly or indirectly channeling funds to Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (FPLP), both designated as terrorist organizations by the European Union.

The organizations named in the report are Paz con Dignidad, Rumbo a Gaza (part of the Global Flotilla Sumud initiative), the Malaga-based Al Quds Association for Solidarity with the Peoples of the Arab World, and the Spanish branch of the British Islamic NGO Human Appeal. However, the report does not provide any clear link connecting these NGOs to funding armed struggle in Palestine.

Human Appeal Spain has vehemently denied the accusations, issuing a statement that explicitly rejects any collaboration, connection, financing, or support for Hamas, Union of Good, or any organization involved in terrorist activities. The Israeli ministry highlighted that Human Appeal Spain, the affiliate of the Manchester-based Human Appeal, was banned in Israel in 2008 due to alleged financial ties with Union of Good, which an Israeli intelligence center describes as a conduit for charitable funds to Hamas.

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cualquier colaboración, vinculación, financiación o apoyo a Hamás, a Union of Good o a cualquier organización que apoye o financie actividades terroristas

Human Appeal Spain emphasized its connection to Human Appeal UK, an entity registered and regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The NGO pointed to a UK parliamentary record from April 6, 2010, where the Charity Commission investigated allegations of its UK-registered organizations belonging to Union of Good and concluded that, based on available evidence at the time, this was not the case.

Rumbo a Gaza also asserted that the claim of it being a terrorist organization is false and denied any affiliation with or funding of terrorist groups. Describing itself as a humanitarian and human rights defense organization, Rumbo a Gaza stated its actions focus on denouncing the occupation of Palestine and attempting to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israel associates Rumbo a Gaza's financial manager, Unadikum, and its founders, former MEP Manu Pineda and activist Daniel Lobato, with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Iran's Spanish-language TV channel HispanTV, and the Turkish Islamic NGO IHH, which Israel considers terrorist due to its alleged links with Union of Good.

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