Recent reports have highlighted a troubling campaign involving the Israeli government and Google.
media reports reveal that Israel funded targeted online ads to undermine the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The Israeli government used Google to run ads accusing twelve UNRWA staff members of involvement in a Hamas attack on Israel in October.
Israeli officials branded the agency as a Hamas front and urged international donors, including the US, to cut their support.
The goal of the campaign was to tarnish UNRWA’s reputation and reduce donations to UNRWA USA, which had seen a surge in contributions due to the Gaza conflict.
A Google insider noted that this was an unusual move, being the first known instance of the Israeli government targeting political ads in Arab countries in many years.
The campaign seemed to conclude around May after inquiries by WIRED with Israel’s foreign ministry and Middle Eastern publishers.
It remains unclear whether the ads are still active, as Google does not have a specific policy on Israeli political ads beyond its borders.
Google employees have raised concerns about profiting from what they see as an effort by Israel to deflect blame from its role in the Gaza crisis. One employee remarked, “You shouldn’t be taking that money.”
UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma criticized the ads for severely damaging the agency’s reputation, stating, “These ads are destructive to people. They should stop, and those responsible should be held accountable.
There needs to be follow-up with companies like Google once the war is over. There’s a lot to answer for.”