How international NGOs racialise and silence Palestinian civil society
The humanitarian sector has always had its issues in Palestine, but the way it has been operating since the genocide in Gaza began is more troubling than ever.
After signing the Oslo Accords in 1993, and under the guise of "state-building", international donors and major NGOs arrived with pre-packaged liberal agendas, throwing around terms like “empowerment”, “development”, and “statehood”.
On the surface, they came to help. In reality, their presence served other purposes, ones far removed from supporting Palestinian liberation.
These organisations, whether intentionally or not, have actively depoliticised the Palestinian struggle, fragmented grassroots movements and enforced a dependency on international aid that prioritises foreign policy interests over the needs of the people.
By framing and packaging the issue as one of “development” or “humanitarian aid”, NGOs shifted the focus from addressing the structural violence of Israeli occupation to solving technical problems. The Palestinian struggle for freedom was reduced to issues like “capacity building”, completely stripped of its political essence.