The Netherlands has for the first time formally designated Israel as a potential national security threat, according to a new report from the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) released today. The intelligence assessment, titled Assessment of Threats from State Actors, accuses Israel of conducting covert influence operations aimed at swaying Dutch public opinion and political decision-making. Central to this finding is an incident in 2023, when Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs distributed a document containing intrusive personal details about Dutch citizens via unofficial channels to a select group of journalists and politicians following a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan rally in Amsterdam.
The report also raises alarm over increasing threats from both Israel and the United States directed at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, warning that such pressure could compromise the court’s autonomy. As host to the ICC and other international legal bodies, the Netherlands said it bears a “special responsibility” to safeguard these institutions from external interference.
While previous disclosures cited concerns about Israeli spyware and surveillance technology, the latest NCTV document notably omits explicit mention of espionage, signaling heightened focus on political influence rather than intelligence operations.
This unprecedented move comes amid widening Dutch criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and rising domestic discontent, including mass pro‑Palestinian protests and academic institutions severing Israeli ties. The shift also follows a February 2024 Dutch court ban on exporting components for F‑35 jets to Israel over concerns of potential misuse under international law. With this formal classification, the Netherlands signals a new stance toward foreign influence threats even when involving long-standing allies a development that may reshape its diplomatic and security posture in Europe.
