Activity

• The Swedish government funds numerous Israeli, Palestinian, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and indirectly by outsourcing to Swedish church groups and aid organizations such as Diakonia.
• In 2025, Sweden provided SEK 260  million (≈$28 million) to NGOs involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Many of the funded NGOs and church aid organizations are involved in anti-peace activities such as incitement, BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions), and legal attacks (“lawfare”) against Israel. Some of these groups also have established ties to terrorist groups.

Sida Humanitarian Partners

• In 2025, Sida conducted a selection process to determine which organisations would be supported under its Humanitarian Strategy for 2025-2029. According to Sida, the process included an “analysis and a risk assessment to assess whether potential cooperation partners conduct or support anti-democratic activity, violent extremism, Islamism, anti-semitism, terrorism, activities that undermine the rights of women and girls, or hate speech.”
• In September 2025, Sida informed applicants that it had introduced a “media review” as part of the application process. A Swedish consultancy, Dcipher Analytics, was commissioned to conduct AI-based reviews of texts published between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, on applicants’ websites, as well as news coverage and social media content (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, X, and YouTube) produced by or about the NGOs.
• Seven shortlisted organisations that underwent Sida’s media review were assessed as “low risk” but were nevertheless not invited to submit applications: CARE, Danish Refugee Council, Humanity and Inclusion, Mercy Corps, Trocaire, Swedish Red Cross, and Plan International. 
• Save the Children, World Vision, Islamic Relief Sweden and Oxfam were not selected to proceed to the next stage of the humanitarian partnership selection process. According to Dcipher Analytics, Oxfam and World Vision were excluded after the review identified “information about potentially relevant controversies … in news sources.”

Sida Civil Society Partners 

• In addition to its humanitarian partnerships, Sida maintains a separate civil society partnership framework through which it provides multi-year funding to civil society organizations engaged in “development cooperation and humanitarian aid.”
• In March 2024, Sida announced the termination of its agreements with the 17 organizations holding strategic partnerships with Sida. Affected organizations included Diakonia, ForumCiv, Save the Children, the Olof Palme International Center, We Effect, and the Church of Sweden — all of which are active in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
• In May 2024, Sida launched an international call for multi-year civil society support. As of February 2026, Sida has approved multiple civil society partners, including We Effect, Diakonia ForumCiv and Save the Children, although the full list of organizations and funding allocations has not yet been publicly finalized.

Developments Since the October 7th Hamas Massacre

• In October 2023, in the aftermath of the brutal Hamas attack, the Swedish government suspended all funding for Palestinians pending a review of the aid. In December 2023, Sida published the results of an initial review proclaiming that “Sida does not find any links to Hamas in Swedish aid in Palestine,” and that no NGO grantees were involved in incitement to hatred and violence after the 7 October 2023 events. (Read NGO Monitor’s report, “Sweden’s NGO Whitewash: NGO Monitor’s Analysis of Sida’s Palestinian Funding Review.”)
• In February 2023, Sweden published a supplemental review whitewashing Swedish-funded Palestinian NGOs that justified and celebrated the October 7th attacks, denied Hamas’ atrocities, and continued to advance antisemitism. The supplemental report claimed that it “screened all direct contracting parties and all cooperation partners that receive support… and found that no organization is found on the EU’s sanctions list .” This inaccurate conclusion was achieved by creating an artificially narrow scope allowing it to exclude the most problematic Palestinian NGOs funded by Sweden – BADIL, Al-Haq, Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), and Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR). (Read NGO Monitor’s analysis, “Selective Oversight: Sweden’s NGO Review Found No Terror Support Because They Didn’t Look.”)   
• On March 27, 2024, Sida announced that it was lifting the freeze that had been enacted for payments to NGOs active in Palestinian areas after October 7th.

Direct Funding

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Funding to Palestinian NGOs

NGO Development Center (NDC)

• In December 2025, Sida signed a grant agreement with NDC for the project “Primary Healthcare NGO Consortium (2026-2029),” providing SEK 25 million (~$2.5 million) to the NGO. Implementing partners include Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) and Juzoor for Health and Social Development (Juzoor).
  • In at least 2007–2021,¹ Juzoor maintained a Jerusalem Youth Parliament (JYP), “…designed to actively engage young Jerusalemite Palestinians ages 12 to 17 (as well as their parents and teachers) in active citizenship and to raise awareness of their Palestinian identity.” JYP hosted events with convicted terrorists, members of the US-designated terrorist organization the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and their families, and held pro-BDS and anti-normalization activities for children. In addition to introducing children to PFLP terrorists, JYP staff also utilized social media to celebrate PFLP terrorists and promote the organization. (For more information, read NGO Monitor’s report “USAID-funded Palestinian NGOs: Introducing Children to Convicted Terrorists”.)
• In 2018-2023, Sida granted SEK 140 million ($15 Million) to NDC’s Human Rights Programme.  
  • In 2024-2027, the Human Rights Program was extended to Phase II with a budget of SEK 120 million ($11.8 million). Following NGO Monitor reports and analyses, the project was abridged, with funding reduced to SEK 60.7 million ($6 million) and concluded in April 2026.
  • The NGOs receiving Swedish funding through the NDC Human Rights Programme are Al Mezan, Al-Haq, Badil, Defence for Children – Palestine (DCI-P), Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Gisha, and Yesh Din.
    • Numerous individuals with alleged ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization have been employed and appointed as board members at DCI-P. (For more information see NGO Monitor’s report: “Defense for Children International – Palestine’s Ties to the PFLP Terrorist Organization.”
    • On April 7, 2026, DCI-P announced it was ceasing operations due to “operational challenges resulting from Israel’s targeted criminalization of Palestinian human rights organizations.”²
    • Al-Haq was designated as a terrorist entity by Israel in 2021, citing numerous links to the EU-designated terrorist organization, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Al-Mezan also has ties to the PFLP and other designated terrorist organizations. (For more information see NGO Monitor’s reports: “Clear and Convincing: The Links between the PFLP and the European Government-funded NGO Network”)

NGOs receiving Swedish funding through the NDC Human Rights Programme (2023-2026)

Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS)

• In 2021-2025, Sida provided SEK 45 million ($4.7 million) to PMRS for projects in the West Bank and Gaza. In addition, Sida granted SEK 200,000 to PMRS to “conduct an internal control review of PMRS to assess the organization’s internal capacities.”

• • On October 7, 2023, the President of PMRS Mustafa Barghouti declared, “Today is a glorious day for the Palestinian resistance and people. The resistance paid with interest for the attacks of the terrorist settlers, and for the attacks against the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It paid with interest for those who normalize [their relations] with the occupation.”
  • In May 2023, Israel arrested PMRS member Mohammad Al-Barq alongside five other suspects who were responsible for manufacturing and planting a bomb on a bus in the town of Beitar Illit on March 9, 2023 on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR)

• In 2023-2026, Sida committed SEK 15 million ($1.4 million) to the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR).

• • Following media reports about “ICHRS’s connection to Hamas” in October 2025, Sida announced that it was “reviewing the information together with other donors under the leadership of Denmark and will take action if it appears that funds have been used incorrectly.” As of May 2026, the investigation remains ongoing.
  • ICHR was established by former PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. While purporting to be an National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) that monitors PA compliance with human rights standards, ICHR also serves as a vehicle to produce and promote PLO political propaganda.
  • ICHR regularly collaborates with EU, US, Canada and Israel-designated terror groups, such as Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)

• In 2022-2026, Sida committed SEK 27 million ($2.6 million) to the GCMHP.
  • In July 2024, GCMHP published a report claiming, “Israel initiated a military operation in the early afternoon hours of October 7th, declaring that it was at war…A collapsing healthcare system, continuous human rights violations, many massacres, and a scarcity of necessities like food, clean water, and medicine, were the hallmarks of the ongoing offensive that started in October…This war came amid critical humanitarian conditions characterized by a long-standing blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.”

Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)

• In 2025-2029,  Sida committed SEK 2.5 million ($254,466) to WCLAC for projects in the West Bank and Gaza.
  • Supports BDS initiatives through participation in activities and events, signing of petitions and initiatives, and membership in BDS platforms.
  • In October 2023, in the aftermath of the brutal Hamas Oct 7th attack, WCLAC was a signatory on a statement calling to “emphasize that the root causes of these events is the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel.”

Ir Amim

• In 2022-2026, Sida committed SEK 6 million ($581.442) to Ir Amim for the “Protection of Land Rights” program in the West Bank. 
  • Activities include “Monitoring” and “exposing” Israeli government actions in Jerusalem, “policy and legal advocacy,” and running highly politicized tours of Jerusalem and the security barrier.
  • In June 2023, Ir Amim, alongside 16 Israeli NGOs, published a joint report titled “State of the Occupation – Year 56: A Joint Situation Report” alleging that “that after 56 years of occupation, Israel’s actions in the West Bank today meet the criteria of apartheid.” According to the NGOs, “The current government’s steps, motivated by its stated Jewish supremacy ideology, will also deepen the apartheid regime governing nearly all aspects of oPt Palestinians’ lives.”

Terrestrial Jerusalem

• In 2023-2026, Sida committed  SEK 3.6 million ($348.022) to Terrestrial Jerusalem for the “Promoting inclusiveness in Jerusalem” program. 
  • Terrestrial Jerusalem promotes a one-sided approach to the conflict, placing sole blame for the failure of the peace process on Israel. The complexities of the situation in Jerusalem – including illegal building and crime in Palestinian neighborhoods, damage to the Temple Mount as a result of illegal digging by the Waqf, and incitement to violence against Jews by extremist clerics – are erased.

AMAN Coalition

• In 2022-2026, Sida committed  SEK 15 million ($1.5 million) to AMAN Coalition for projects in the West Bank and Gaza.
  • The AMAN coalition accuses Israel of “stealing,” having “racist goals,” “Judaisation,” and “repeated attempts to ignite a sectarian religious conflict with the aim of controlling the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its precincts.”

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Funding to International NGOs

Islamic Relief Sweden

• In 2021-2026,  Sida committed  SEK 22 million ($2.1 million) to Islamic Relief Sweden for projects in the West Bank and Gaza.
  • In January 2026, Sida announced it was halting all new contributions to Islamic Relief Sweden within the Humanitarian and Civil Society frameworks. A review conducted by the Center against Violent Extremism found that “a few people” within Islamic Relief Sweden and related networks have or have had connections to “violent extremism or anti-democratic environments.”
  • Islamic Relief Sweden is part of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) and was founded by the Islamic Association in Sweden.
  • In January 2021, the US State Department cut ties with IRW due to “anti-Semitism exhibited repeatedly by IRW’s leadership.”
  • In November 2020, the German Ministry of Interior cited IRW’s “significant connections” to the Muslim Brotherhood and announced that projects with IRW had ended.
  • On June 19, 2014, Israel’s Defense Minister declared IRW to be illegal, based on its alleged role in funneling money to Hamas, and banned it from operating in Israel and the West Bank. Hamas is a designated terror organization by Israel, the US, EU, and Canada. According to media reports, the decision was made after “the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the coordinator for government activities in the territories, and legal authorities provided incriminating information against IRW.”
  • In November 2014, the United Arab Emirates banned IRW as a terror organization.
  • In January 2016, HSBC Banking group in the UK severed ties with IRW over terror funding fears.

Action Against Hunger 

• In 2021-2026, Sida committed  SEK 10.2 million ($1 million) to Action Against Hunger for projects in Gaza and the West Bank.

Save the Children Sweden (Rädda Barnen)

• In 2021-2026, Sida committed SEK 3.3 million ($337.635) to Save the Children Sweden for projects in the West Bank and Gaza. 
  • Following its 2025 humanitarian partnership selection process, Sida did not select Save the Children to proceed to the next stage, thereby ending its funding.
• In May 2023, Save the Children and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) held two training courses on “the mechanisms of monitoring and documenting child rights violations,” and to “child rights advocacy locally and internationally in light of the recurrence of violations against children in Palestine due to the Israeli systematic practices.” According to PCHR, the courses were designed to assist staff members in “preparing, writing, presenting and discussing national and parallel reports submitted to international committees…” (emphasis added). 
  • According to a 1995 article in the Washington Report, PCHR Founder and Director Raji Sourani served “a three-year sentence [1979-1982] imposed by an Israeli court which convicted him of membership in the illegal Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine…” He was also denied a US entry visa in 2012. In February 2014, the PFLP organized a ceremony in Gaza honoring Sourani for winning the “Alternative Noble (sic) Prize.” For more information on PCHR’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.”

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)

• In 2021-2025, SIDA provided  SEK 18.2 million ($2.1 million) to the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).
  • In December 2024, Sweden announced an end to its support for EAPPI. 
  • EAPPI sends volunteers to the West Bank to “witness life under occupation.” Upon completion of the program, the volunteers return to their home countries and churches where many engage in inflammatory anti-Israel, and at times anti semitic, rhetoric and advocacy, including advocating for BDS campaigns in churches, comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa and Nazi Germany, and other delegitimization strategies.
  • Sweden sends about 20 participants to the EAPPI program annually. Upon returning to Sweden, many EAPPI activists use their experience in the West Bank to promote anti-Israel campaigns, including BDS.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

• In 2021-2025, Sida provided SEK 90.5 million ($9.3 million) to NRC for the “NRC’s Humanitarian Programme 2021-2025” in the West Bank and Gaza. 
• NRC is a key implementer of cash assistance coordinated by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) and acknowledges this cooperation with MoSD: “NRC fosters strong partnerships with national and local authorities, particularly with the MoSD in Gaza and the West Bank, ensuring targeted assistance through the Gaza Protection Consortium’s cash programming.” (Read NGO Monitor’s report on “Hamas Influences UK Funded Gaza Cash Programme.”)
• NRC has been one of the leading international campaigners against donor-imposed anti-terror vetting regulations. NRC lobbies to reduce anti-terror vetting standards, as well as to develop mechanisms to circumvent them. For more information see NGO Monitors report “Norwegian Refugee Council’s Campaign to Weaken and Circumvent US Anti-terror Policy.”
• Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA), one of NRC’s principle projects in Israel, exploits judicial frameworks to manipulate Israeli policy, bypassing democratic frameworks. 
  • As part of the ICLA program, NRC provides “legal assistance, including paralegal services, accompaniment, follow up or court representation in order to ensure the best possible individual legal protection outcomes” in “collaboration, coordination and partnership both internally within NRC and externally with NGO sector… and with the PA with a view to address some of the barriers to participation of the hard to reach population in ICLA response.”
  • A lawyer affiliated with the NRC program stated that the objective of these cases are an attempt to “try every possible legal measure to disrupt the Israeli judicial system… as many cases as possible are registered and that as many cases as possible are appealed to increase the workload of the courts and the Supreme Court to such an extent that there will be a blockage” (emphasis added).
  • Based on research obtained via freedom of information requests, UN reports and funding databases (FTS), publications from European governments, NGO activity reports and financial statements, and filings with government regulators in the UK, Israel, the EU, and elsewhere – NGO Monitor has documented that  NRC works with a narrow selection of political NGOs that promote a one-sided narrative of the conflict in implementing its legal aid and “public interest litigation” related programs. NRC has partnered with UAWC, HaMoked, JLAC, Society of St. Yves, Terrestrial Jerusalem, Yesh Din, CAC, Bimkom, Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (PCDCR), Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), and Al Mezan, among others.
    • UAWC, PCHR, and Al Mezan are all linked to the PFLP terrorist organization.

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP-UK)

• In 2025-2029, Sida committed SEK 4 million ($407,145) to MAP-UK for projects in the West Bank.
  • According to a December 2022 internal memo of the Hamas Ministry of Interior and National Security (MoINS) regarding Hamas-approved NGO liaisons,³ MAP-UK’s “administrative director” in Gaza works in “the positive” – a known term for Hamas’ Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades – and “is affiliated with Hamas and has pledged allegiance to its rule.” Moreover, the documents detail that “he is employed in the [Hamas-affiliated] Islamic University [of Gaza],” and that  “his circle of friends is from the Hamas movement.”
  • In April 2025, MAP called on states to “Cease military and security support and suspend all arms sales to Israel” and “Halt trade or business with illegal settlements or enabling Israel’s illegal occupation.”

Mercy Corps Europe

• In 2025-2029, Sida committed SEK 8 million ($814,294) to Mercy Corps Europe for the “TechRise Palestine” program. 
  • In 2019-2026, Sida provided SEK 62.6 million ($6.6 million) to Mercy Corps Europe for the “Growing the Palestinian Technology Ecosystem” program.
  • According to the UN’s description of a 2022 Mercy Corps Gaza project, the NGO partnered with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) to coordinate lists of beneficiaries for cash assistance programs in Gaza. (For more information, see NGO Monitor’s report, “US-funded NGO Aid Benefiting Hamas: Mercy Corps and ANERA Operations in Gaza.”)

Oxfam GB

• In 2021-2026, Sida committed  SEK 32.5 million ($3.2 million) to Oxfam GB for projects in Gaza and the West Bank.
  • Oxfam GB is “one of the 22 affiliates that make up the Oxfam confederation.”
  • A June 16, 2021 document⁴ suggests that Oxfam worked with a Hamas-linked local group on an infrastructure project that appears to have contributed to Hamas military preparations.⁵ The file details an Oxfam water project slated to take place in “a border area and is security sensitive, since it is a place of interest for both the occupation and the resistance alike.” MoINS officials added, “The project concerns irrigation of fruit trees…[which[] are known to be a cover for resistance activities in border areas” – referring to Hamas military activity (emphases added). MoINS officials mentioned Oxfam’s local implementing partner Rai-Consult – touting that “the founders and the people in charge of the company, and many of the employees in it have an Islamist view and its director is affiliated with the Hamas movement” (emphasis added).
  • In July 2024, Oxfam published a report, “Water War Crimes,” alleging that “Israel has weaponised water in its military campaign in Gaza.” According to Oxfam, “We’ve already seen Israel’s use of collective punishment and its use of starvation as a weapon of war. Now we are witnessing its weaponizing of water, which is already having deadly consequences.”
• In November 2023, Oxfam Novib, alongside Amnesty International, PAX, and the Rights Forum, announced they were suing the Netherlands for “continuing to export arms to Israel.” The lawsuit demanded “the immediate cessation of the supply of parts for Israeli F35 fighter planes.”
• In November 2022, Oxfam participated in an olive harvest organized by the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC).
  • UAWC is identified by Fatah as an official “affiliate,” and by USAID-engaged audit as the “agricultural arm” of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel. According to academic scholar Glenn E. Robinson, UAWC was founded in 1986 by “agronomists loosely affiliated with the PFLP.” For more information on UAWC’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Union of Agricultural Work Committees Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.”
  • On October 22, 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defense declared UAWC a “terror organization” because it is part of “a network of organizations” that operates “on behalf of the ‘Popular Front’.”

Alianza Por La Solidaridad (Actionaid)

• In 2021-2025, Sida committed SEK 15.4 million ($1.70 million) to Alianza Por La Solidaridad for the “Equal rooting – Greater gender equality in Palestine”  program.
  • Partners for the program include highly politicized Palestinian NGOs such as Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) and Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA).

Sida Funding to NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Indirect Swedish Funding to NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Diakonia

• In 2025-2029, Sida committed  SEK 2.8 million ($280,219) to Diakonia for projects in the West Bank and Gaza.
• In 2021-2026, Sida committed SEK 40.1 million ($4.1 million) to Diakonia for projects in the West Bank and Gaza.

• • Diakonia frequently exploits international legal rhetoric to demonize Israel. Its “International Humanitarian Law” (IHL) program promotes anti-Israel lawfare campaigns and a narrative based on Palestinian victimization.
  • In May 2026, Diakonia, together with Amnesty International, Oxfam Sweden, Human Rights Watch, and others, sent a “Party Survey on Israel and Palestine” to all parties in the Swedish Parliament, asking how they are complying with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) July 2024 advisory opinion, which according to the survey states that “Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and which also clarifies the responsibilities of third countries.”
  • In a September 2024 Position Paper, Diakonia alleged that “the Israeli military regime in the West Bank and the occupied East Jerusalem…bears resemblance of structures like those of the old apartheid system in South Africa and must be changed.”
  • In January 2024, Diakonia signed an open call to UN Member States calling to “immediately halt the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition” to Israel. 
• In addition to its own activities, Diakonia partners with the most highly biased and politicized NGOs active in the Arab-Israeli conflict including, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHRI), Sabeel, Palestinian Vision, and Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS).

Kvinna Till Kvinna (KtK)

• In 2025-2029, Sida committed SEK 3.7 million ($373.639) to Kvinna Till Kvinna for projects in the West Bank and Gaza. 

• • KtK funds numerous NGOs including, Association for Women and Child Protection (AISHA), Women’s Affair Center (WAC), Not to Forget Women Society, and the Palestinian Hydrology Group. 

Church of Sweden

• In 2023, the Church of Sweden received SEK 113 million (≈$11.6 million) from “Sida, EU and other institutions.”
  •  The Church of Sweden supports the Kairos Palestine document, which calls for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel; denies Jewish historical connections to Israel in theological terms; and rationalizes, justifies, and trivializes terrorism, calling it “legal resistance.”

ForumCiv

• In 2025-2029, Sida committed  SEK 1.1 million ($107.458) to ForumCiv for projects in the West Bank and Gaza. 
  • The programme is implemented by a consortium led by ForumCiv together with six member organisations: Clowns Without Borders Sweden, Framtidsjorden, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Sweden, Praktisk Solidaritet, Swedish Foundation for Human Rights, and The Hunger Project Sweden. 

We Effect (formerly Swedish Cooperative Centre)

• In 2025-2029, Sida committed SEK 2.8 million ($297,865) to We Effect for the “Co-Power  Programme” in Gaza and the West Bank.
• In 2025-2029, Sida committed SEK 13 million ($1.3 million) to We Effect for the “Livelihood, Infrastructure, and Food systems Transformation (LIFT)” program. 
  • Implementing partners include:  the Palestinian Hydrologists Group (PHG), the Land Research Center (LRC), the Development Work Center/Together, and the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ).
• In 2023-2026, Sida committed SEK 15.9 million ($1.5 million) to We Effect for projects in Gaza and the West Bank.
• In 2020-2025, We Effect received SEK 55 million ($5.6 million) from Sida for “Environmental and Climate Justice Program Palestine 2020-2023.” The program is a collaboration between We Effect and a number of Palestinian NGOs: Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), Land Research Center (LRC), the MA’AN Development Center, Agricultural Development Association (PARC), Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG), and Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC).
  • UAWC is identified by Fatah as an official PFLP “affiliate,” and by USAID as the “agricultural arm” of the PFLP.  For more information on UAWC’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Union of Agricultural Work Committees Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.” 

The Olof Palme International Center

• In 2020-2028, Sida committed SEK 49.6 million ($5.1 million) for projects in Gaza and the West Bank.
  • On June 14, 2025, Sida excluded Olof Palme from the list of civil society organizations eligible to apply for funding intended to “strengthen civil society organizations in developing countries.” The decision follows Sida’s updated strategy for 2025–2029, which states: “Support under this strategy may not be given to political parties in ODA countries or to their associated organizations.”⁶
  • The Olof Palme Center partners with PYALARA – The Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation and funds the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine (DWRC) among others.

Individuell Människohjälp (IM)

• In 2025-2028,  Sida committed  SEK 217,000 ($22,088) to IM for projects in Gaza.
• According to its website, IM supports several partner organizations including: AISHA, Ajyal Association for Creativity and Development (Ajyal), Assiwar, Al Sakakini, Beit Al-Shabab, Baladna, Liberated Villages Coalition.
  • Members of Aisha’s board of directors, Taghreed Jomaa and Elias al-Jelda, have served as Central Committee members for the PFLP terror group.
  • According to a December 11, 2022 document⁷ from the Hamas Ministry of Interior and National Security (MoINS), Hamas conducted security screenings of all staff working on the “Multi-Sectoral Humanitarian Response for Gazan Families in Crisis” (Farah Program), implemented by the Ajyal Association for Creativity and Development and Catholic Relief Services. The document identifies one employee of Ajyal as being affiliated with the PFLP. (On file with NGO Monitor)

Palestine Groups (Palestinagrupperna i Sverige) 

• In 2025-2028, Sida committed SEK 3.92 million ($399,394 K) to the Palestinagrupperna i Sverige (PGS) for the program “Children, Youth and Peacebuilding – in Palestine.”
  • Since October 2023, PGS has created an “emergency fundraiser” to “regularly transfer funds” to its partners, the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP), the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), and Youth Vision Society Gaza (YVS).

Indirect Swedish Funding to NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Swedish Funding to NGOs via the United Nations

UNRWA 

• According to Sida, in 2017-2024, it allocated SEK 457 million to UNRWA.
• In May 2025, Sida stated that “For the time being, the agency will not support UNRWA, the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, with new funding. The assessment is made based on the government’s new authority instruction to Sida.”
• Hamas’ and other terror groups’ exploitation of UNRWA and its facilities is well documented. Additionally, there is blatant evidence of UNRWA employees’ involvement in Hamas terrorism, including direct participation in the brutal October 7 slaughter.

UN-OCHA

• In 2023-2027,  Sida committed SEK 273 million ($27.3 million) to UN-OCHA for the Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) programs in the West Bank and Gaza. 
• In 2025, Sweden provided $17.4 million to the UN-OCHA occupied Palestinian territory Humanitarian Fund.
• Many of the NGOs for which OCHA-oPt fundraises are active in anti-Israel demonization and BDS, indicating that funds support anti-Israel NGO agendas instead of humanitarian goals. A number of the NGOs are also affiliated with the PFLP terror group, including Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC), and Health Work Committees (HWC).

UNICEF

• In 2025-2026, Sweden committed UNICEF with SEK 210 million ($21.4 million), for projects in the West Bank and Gaza.
  • A British Consulate-General in Jerusalem (BCGJ) document dated November 2022, outlines a plan for “UK Humanitarian Support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (FY 2022-2026).” One element is funding for UNICEF-administered cash assistance in Gaza. The document explains that “The cash assistance component will be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development MoSD.” As highlighted by the document, “The MoSD in Gaza is affiliated with the de facto authorities and thus UK Aid can be linked directly or indirectly with supporting the de factor [sic] authority (Hamas) in Gaza which is part of a proscribed group” (emphasis added). (For more information on UNICEF’s cash assistance programme, see NGO Monitor’s reports, “Hamas Influences UK Funded Gaza Cash Programme”;“European Government Funding for Programs Involving Hamas-Controlled Ministry.”)

UN Women, Unicef and UNDP

• In 2019-2025, Sweden provided SEK 134 million ($ 14.1 million) for the “Rule of Law (Sawasya II)” program, bringing together the main UN entities (UNDP/UNWomen/Unicef)  “to leverage partnerships with other key bilateral and multilateral development partners, including the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), the Office of the Middle East Quartet, the European Union (via both the Office of the EU Representative and the EUPOL COPPS mission), and lead bilateral donors in the justice and security sectors. 
• Sawasya (phase II) NGO partners included PFLP-linked PCHR, DCI-P, Al Mezan, and AISHA, as well as other NGOs such as  Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), WCLAC, WAC, Hurryat, Terre des Hommes (TdH), Yesh Din, and Gisha.
• For 2024-2030, the Sawasya Program was extended to Phase III with a budget of SEK 20 million ($1.96 million).

UNDP

• In 2025-2028, Sweden committed SEK 24.1 million ($2.5 million) to UNDP for the “Civil Society for Inclusiveness, Democracy and Human Rights” program. Due to limited transparency, it is not possible to independently evaluate the scope of funding and amounts directed to local NGO partners. 
• In 2022-2027, Sweden committed SEK 35 million ($3.5 million) to UNDP for the “Transparency, Evidence and Accountability Program” in the West Bank.
• Additionally, Sweden earmarked SEK 30 million ($3.1 million) to UNDP to support Gaza in 2025-2026.

Swedish Funding to the UN