Netherlands Designates Israel as Security Threat Over Disinformation and Pressure on International Justice
In an unprecedented move, the Netherlands’ National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) has officially labeled Israel a security threat, citing the regime’s persistent dissemination of disinformation and undue pressure on international legal institutions, particularly the International Criminal Court (ICC). This landmark designation, detailed in the NCTV’s “Assessment of Threats from State Actors” report released on July 17, 2025, marks a significant shift in the Netherlands’ relationship with Israel and underscores growing international concern over the regime’s conduct.
The NCTV report highlights several instances of Israeli interference in Dutch affairs, primarily through disinformation campaigns aimed at manipulating public opinion and influencing political decisions. A key incident cited involves an Israeli ministry disseminating sensitive personal information about Dutch citizens through unofficial channels to journalists and politicians. This action followed a heated football match in Amsterdam in November 2024 between Maccabi Tel Aviv and a Dutch team, where provocative behavior by Israeli fans sparked clashes with local residents. The report suggests that the subsequent sharing of personal data was a retaliatory measure aimed at influencing the narrative and applying pressure on Dutch authorities.
Central to the NCTV’s designation is Israel’s ongoing campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague. The report expresses grave concerns regarding threats emanating from both Israel and its principal ally, the United States, towards the ICC and its officials. These threats, the report warns, pose a significant risk to the court’s ability to function independently and effectively administer justice. The Netherlands, as host nation to the ICC, feels a “special responsibility” to ensure the court’s unhindered operation and has consequently taken the decisive step of identifying Israel as a security threat for its role in undermining this vital international institution.
The NCTV’s report echoes earlier revelations by The Guardian in May 2024, which exposed Israel’s long-standing campaign of intimidation against the ICC. This campaign, according to legal experts, includes the harassment and threatening of ICC officials in an attempt to obstruct investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes. The report further details how Israeli intelligence agencies have engaged in efforts to undermine and influence the ICC, actions potentially constituting “offences against the administration of justice” that warrant investigation by the ICC’s chief prosecutor. This pattern of interference is not limited to Israel; the report also implicates the United States in exerting pressure on the ICC, further jeopardizing the court’s independence.
The US, a staunch supporter of Israel and also a non-member of the ICC, imposed sanctions against the court last year following the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister Yoav Gallant. These sanctions, which target ICC judges and officials, have been widely condemned as a blatant attempt to obstruct the court’s work and shield Israeli officials from accountability. The ICC itself denounced the sanctions as a direct assault on its independence, highlighting the escalating tension between the court and states unwilling to submit to its jurisdiction. The NCTV report explicitly connects these US sanctions to the broader pattern of pressure on the ICC, further implicating the US in undermining international justice mechanisms.
The history of US opposition to the ICC dates back to the Bush administration, which enacted the American Service-Members’ Protection Act in 2002. This controversial legislation, often dubbed the “Hague Invasion Act,” authorizes the US president to use military force to prevent the detention of US or allied personnel by the ICC. This preemptive authorization underscores the US’s longstanding resistance to international legal scrutiny and its willingness to employ extreme measures to protect its perceived interests, even at the expense of international law and cooperation. The NCTV report, by highlighting these historical and ongoing actions, paints a clear picture of a concerted effort to undermine the ICC and shield certain actors from accountability.
Interestingly, while the NCTV report acknowledges the threat posed by Israel’s actions, it stops short of including Israel in its section on espionage. This omission is notable given the NCTV’s previous expressions of concern regarding Israeli spyware, which has been used to target journalists, activists, and even for targeted assassinations worldwide. This apparent discrepancy raises questions about the scope of the NCTV’s assessment and whether political considerations played a role in excluding Israel from the espionage section despite evidence of its extensive cyber surveillance activities. The report’s focus primarily on disinformation and pressure on international justice institutions, while significant, may not fully reflect the breadth of security concerns related to Israel’s actions, particularly in the realm of cyber espionage.