ProtectDefenders.eu has been informed about the alarming re-emergence of two legislative proposals, that have passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset on 16 February 2025. This is the first step in a four-stage legislative process that must be prevented from advancing any further.
If enacted, the two proposed bills would represent a grave escalation in the Israeli government’s relentless campaign to silence dissent, obstruct the work of Israeli human rights defenders, and dismantle civil society, against the backdrop of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and serious human rights violations in the West Bank.
The first bill, No. P/5222/25, which Israeli organisations refer to as the ‘NGO Taxation Law,’ introduces two dangerous provisions: an 80% tax on donations from foreign states to NGOs and a prohibition on courts to consider petitions submitted by these organisations, effectively stripping them of their ability to legally challenge government actions in court. If enacted, the bill would push Israeli civil society organisations reliant on international funding to the brink of financial collapse. It is a deliberate attempt to strangle human rights organisations by draining their resources to curtail accountability and their work to defend human rights.
The second bill, identified as the ‘ICC law’, is a proposed law to criminalise any cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The bill imposes prison sentences of up to five years on any unauthorised information sharing with the ICC. If the information is classified, the culprit is liable to life imprisonment.
Under this law, all Israeli human rights organisations that are reporting, researching and publishing serious human rights violations against Palestinian civilians could be punished and sentenced to at least five years in prison. This legislation would compound the severe harassment already faced by many of these organisations because of their human rights work.
The purpose of this bill is to obstruct the work of the ICC, and thus protect Israeli political leaders and military personnel from arrest warrants over alleged war crimes in Gaza. This will have the effect of shielding Israeli authorities from accountability and cracking down on human rights defenders seeking justice.
These measures are part of a broader trend of undermining the ability of Israeli and Palestinian human rights defenders and NGOs to carry out their legitimate and crucial work. Over the last 15 years, Israeli authorities have resorted to smear campaigns, intimidation, and harassment measures. They have also implemented restrictive legislation and increased pressure on international donors to reduce funding for organisations that expose human rights violations.
