A recent report by the Dutch chief counter-terrorism agency has included Israel for the first time on its list of foreign states that pose a threat to the country.
The Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counter-terrorism (NCTV) issued a document titled “Assessment of Threats from State Actors,” which points to efforts by Israel to manipulate Dutch public opinion and influence political decision-making through disinformation campaigns.
The intelligence warning by NCTV, the principal Dutch agency responsible for the assessment of threats to national security, comes in the wake of violence and mayhem in Amsterdam in November 2024 involving supporters of the controversial Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.
The fan base of Maccabi Tel Aviv is known to include ultra-far right groups. And prior to the violent confrontations between the Israeli fans and locals, Maccabi fans were filmed in Amsterdam pulling Palestinian flags from houses, vandalising property and raising chants like “death to Arabs.”
One incident cited in the Dutch government report involves a document circulated last year by an Israeli ministry to Dutch journalists and politicians through unofficial channels.
The report claimed the document contained unusual and unrequired personal details about Dutch citizens, following tensions in Amsterdam involving the supporters of football team Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Following the violence in Amsterdam by Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, the Palestinian Football Association issued a statement saying they were “gravely concerned” about the incident and condemned the anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia expressed by Israeli football fans.
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The NCTV also flagged concerns over mounting threats from both Israel and the U.S. towards the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. These threats, it noted, could potentially disrupt the court’s work of administering justice.
As a host country to several international legal institutions, the Netherlands was described as having a “special responsibility” to safeguard their operations in the face of such external pressures.
Although not mentioned in the espionage section of this particular report, the NCTV has previously expressed concerns about Israeli spyware and surveillance tools.
Dutch-Israel relations
Since Israel started its war on Gaza and the ensuing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, there has been a significant shift in relations between Amsterdam and Tel Aviv.
The Dutch government has become increasingly vocal in its criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and has called for an immediate cease-fire.
The Netherlands has been among the EU nations (alongside Ireland and Spain) which have publicly urged the Brussels to re-assess its ties with Israel, stating that Israel has violated human rights conditions under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Furthermore, in a significant development, the Hague Court of Appeal in February 2024 ordered the Dutch government to stop exporting parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, citing a clear risk that these weapons could be used to violate international humanitarian law.
Public opinion in the Netherlands has also shifted considerably, with recent surveys indicating a significant increase in unfavorable views of Israel and a growing proportion of Dutch citizens supporting a more critical stance toward Israel’s policies, even if it entails suspending economic or military cooperation.
However, The Netherlands continues to advocate for a two-state solution, with a secure Israel and an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state coexisting side by side in peace.
Together with the other members of the EU bloc, Amsterdam also provides a substantial amount of humanitarian and development aid to the Palestinian Territories.
