Israeli authorities arrest senior HWC officials amid terror, foreign influence threats

Israeli authorities have arrested senior officials from the Health Work Committees (HWC), an organization designated as a terrorist group by Israel in 2020 due to alleged ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The arrests coincide with reports from Israel's security establishment about confronting both terrorist threats and foreign influence operations.

The Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, recently thwarted multiple alleged plots targeting Israel's political and security leadership. The agency also dismantled several foreign-run social media operations believed to be aimed at influencing Israeli public opinion. One identified network, a Telegram channel called Bnei Eretz, allegedly presented itself as an Israeli platform while being operated by a "hostile foreign actor," according to Channel 12.

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This is yet another example of how terror groups like the PFLP repeatedly exploit the NGO facade.

Israeli security officials anticipate an increase in such influence campaigns, particularly ahead of the country's upcoming legislative elections, as foreign actors seek to exploit political divisions and social tensions. The detention of HWC officials has drawn renewed attention from NGO Monitor founder Prof. Gerald M. Steinberg. He highlighted the arrests as evidence of the organization's alleged longstanding links to the PFLP.

Steinberg pointed out that despite Israel designating HWC as a terrorist organization in 2020, the group has continued its operations in the West Bank. He noted that several senior HWC officials and employees, including its former general director and fundraiser, have been convicted of terror-related offenses. Steinberg criticized continued European support for HWC, specifically mentioning Belgium as a donor, and called on donor states to immediately halt any remaining funding due to the organization's alleged ongoing ties with the PFLP. Channel 12 did not identify the foreign actor behind the influence campaigns or provide further details on the alleged terror plots or arrests.

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We call on donor states to immediately halt any remaining funding to HWC based on its leaders' ongoing ties with the PFLP.