Former Oxfam head alleges ‘toxic’ antisemitic culture, claims anti-Israel bias and pressure to use ‘genocide’ label

The former CEO of Oxfam – an international confederation of charitable organizations focused on fighting poverty, inequality, and injustice around the world – has described her former workplace as having a toxic and antisemitic culture. Dr. Halima Begum has said they leapt to accusations of genocide against Israel before the facts had been properly established.

A similar anti-Israel slant has become increasingly apparent among other NGOs according to the Jerusalem Post, as NGO monitor reveals discussions within charitable organizations have continued for 20 years, eager to apply the label genocide to Israel.

“It always felt as though we were disproportionately working around the crisis in Gaza,” Begum said in an interview with British broadcaster, Channel 4 on Saturday. 

She described “quite strong pushback” over any hesitancy to use the word genocide: “To use the word genocide it has to be something that we arrive at with consultation and evidence and good legal advice,” she stated. “To try and use that term before we're ready as an organization feels quite risky to me.”

“It was very hard to hold onto neutrality and impartiality,” she admitted, and said there was a minority of staff who had a “very toxic culture in the way they operated, which then affected the whole organisation.”

Dr. Gerald Steinberg, founder and president of NGO Monitor which has been tracking over 300 organizations, corroborated Begum’s claims: 

“We saw that with the coordinated 'genocide' campaign launched about a year after October 7. Discussions about using such terminology had circulated in NGO frameworks for over 20 years,” he told the Jerusalem Post on Sunday. “They were prepared to use it as soon as they believed the opportunity arose."

“It’s important to understand that there are hundreds of NGOs registered with the United Nations that claim to promote human rights or humanitarian aid while also maintaining active political advocacy roles,” Steinberg said, accusing them of “political demonization of Israel, obsession with Israel, and reinforcement of each other’s messaging.”

“Oxfam, for example, has an annual budget of about $1.3 billion. That’s enormous. It’s a powerful organization with a large public relations operation that significantly influences public and political opinion, including at the United Nations,” he warned.

Israel has recently brought in new rules for NGOs, requiring aid organizations to register the names and identity numbers of their Palestinian and foreign workers, as well as provide funding and operational details in order to continue working in the Palestinian territories. 

The requirement was added after the Israeli government exposed the identities of several international aid workers as also being members of terror groups. An example of this is Fadi Al-Wadiya, a doctor working with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who was revealed to have been the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ) rocket program. 

After failing to meet the requirements, 37 such NGOs lost their licenses to operate on Jan.1, 2026, including MSF, Oxfam, the Danish and Norwegian Refugee Councils, and Caritas Internationalis, an umbrella of several Catholic charities. 

Steinberg said some NGOs had been profoundly influenced by activists with the goal of delegitimizing Israel, describing some of the volunteers as “virulent propagandists.” He told the Post that while the growth in anti-Israel bias has been gradual, he believes the new requirements are having some effect.

MSF recently announced their decision to halt "non-critical" medical activities at Nasser Hospital in Gaza following reports of "armed men, some masked" inside the facility and concerns over the movement of weapons within it.

“This was widely known. Journalists and the IDF documented hospital use by Hamas years ago. It’s implausible that these NGOs were unaware,” Steinberg said.

“The question is why they’re acknowledging it now. I believe it’s related to Israeli requirements that NGOs submit staff names for vetting,” he said. “Israel is demanding cooperation with security frameworks and screening of personnel to prevent terror infiltration. That pressure appears to be having some effect… If they knew hospitals were being used by Hamas and that aid was diverted to build hundreds of kilometers of tunnels – and remained silent – that makes them complicit.”

Blink and miss it. After yrs denying & avoiding its staff work beside & include militants ("We know fucking well they're in the hospital": @msf staffer) Doctors without Borders says "armed men, some masked" are halting “non-critical” operations at Gaza's Nasser hospital. No… pic.twitter.com/2AsUauNbqG

— Danielle Haas (@DanielleHaas01) February 13, 2026

The Red Cross has also frequently been accused of partiality during the conflict, having failed to visit the hostages even once during their time in captivity and taking part in the Hamas “release ceremonies.” Similarly Amnesty International has become increasingly open about their anti-Israel position despite claims of neutrality, even posting in support of UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese who refers to Hamas terrorists as "resistance fighters." 

“This entire industry requires careful, independent investigation. The lack of oversight has allowed a political agenda to override humanitarian claims,” Steinberg told the Post.

Dr. Begum is taking legal action against her former employers for antisemitism, racism, and sexism, but Oxfam’s issued a statement insisting that they remain neutral, saying:

“We have a zero tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, and abuse of power in all areas of our work, including racism and antisemitism and sexism. 
It would be inaccurate and misleading to characterise Oxfam as a racist organisation. We abhor anti Semitism, we unequivocally, and categorically reject any allegation of anti Semitism which runs counter to Oxfam's core humanitarian principles of impartiality and humanity.”