The Netherlands has flagged Israel as a national security risk for the first time. This comes straight from the Dutch counterterrorism agency’s latest threat assessment, highlighting foreign meddling
The National Coordinator for Terrorism and Security (NCTV) put out the report on July 17th, and lists Israel alongside Iran, Russia, and Turkey as part of the Netherland’s Threat Assessment of State Actors 2025.
The list evaluates threats posed by other states to the Netherlands, especially focusing on espionage, economic pressure, and military threats.
The NCTV included Israel in a section called ‘Subversive Influence to Alter Public Perception,’ writing that “Israel is also attempting to influence political and public opinion abroad, including in the Netherlands.”
The report also noted that Israel influenced public opinion directly by sending documents to Dutch journalists and politicians instead of using proper diplomatic channels.
The incident highlighted was the Ajax Amsterdam versus Maccabi Tel Aviv football match in Amsterdam last year, where Israeli fans clashed with Dutch youth.
Nearly 30 people were injured after the match.
According to NBC News, rioters actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them.
Israeli officials deemed the unrest antisemitic and sent two planes to the Netherlands to repatriate the fans.
The document sent to Dutch journalists included “unusual and unwanted personal details” about Dutch citizens.
The NCTV said of the potential consequences of the information, “the individuals mentioned could be intimidated or threatened, or in the worst case, attacked.”
Additionally, the NCTV expressed alarm over escalating threats from Israel and the United States directed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, noting that such actions could potentially hinder the court’s operations.
Tel Aviv allegedly utilized its intelligence services to monitor, hack, intimidate, defame, and reportedly threaten senior ICC officials in an attempt to undermine the court’s investigations, as revealed by a collaborative report from The Guardian and two Israeli publications.
This was after the International Court filed an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in May 2024.
This inclusion reflects deteriorating Dutch-Israeli relations amid the ongoing Gaza war. The Netherlands has increasingly voiced concerns, joining Ireland and Spain in urging the EU to reassess ties with Israel over human rights violations.
Recent polls show rising negative sentiment toward Israel among the Dutch public, with growing support for suspending economic and military cooperation.
The NCTV’s report emphasizes the importance of monitoring foreign influence to safeguard national security, prevent the spread of misleading narratives, and uphold international legal standards.
