Jerusalem(CNN) Israel's government has declared six Palestinian civil society groups supported by the international community as terrorist organizations, prompting dismay among human rights campaigners.
Among the groups are Al Haq, one of the longest-established human rights organizations in the West Bank, and Defense of Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), which documents violations of child rights.
A statement from Israel's Defense Ministry said all six "constitute a network of organizations active undercover on the international front on behalf of the 'Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP],' to support its activity and further its goals."
The statement accused the groups of masquerading as civil society organizations when in fact, it said, they were controlled by the banned PFLP and employed many PFLP activists.
It said the groups amounted to fundraising entities for the PFLP, in particular through the receipt of donations from European countries and international organizations.
The General Director of Al Haq, Shawan Jabarin, told CNN the accusations were "nonsense."
"This is a political move and not a security one. [Israel's] occupation has no limits to its injustice and insanity. But it will never stop us from defending our people and expose the crimes of the occupation," he said.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), which enjoys limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, called the announcement "unhinged."
"This fallacious and libelous slander is a strategic assault on Palestinian civil society and the Palestinian people's fundamental right to oppose Israel's illegal occupation and expose its continuing crimes," a statement from the PA Foreign Ministry read.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters Friday afternoon Washington was seeking more information from Israel over the basis for the designations, adding the US had not been warned in advance an announcement was coming.
The move by the Israeli government represents a challenge for the many European countries that provide financing to the six organizations, which, as well as Al Haq and DCI-P, include Addameer, the Bisan Center, the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees.
European governments, many of which are looking to turn a page in relations with Israel following the establishment of the new government led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, now risk being accused of funding terrorism if they continue financing the six groups.
One senior European official working in the region admitted the move was likely aimed at putting pressure on donors' decision-making but said there needed to be an analysis of any evidence put forward by Israel.
"Let us see what evidence is provided by the Ministry of Defense to substantiate the designations of these NGOs. We have heard similar accusations many times before against some of these NGOs and they have never been substantiated, so this could be more fake news designed to deter European donors from funding Palestinian human rights organizations," the official told CNN.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which partners with the NGOs, echoed those criticisms and said the designations listed "extremely vague or irrelevant reasons, including entirely peaceful and legitimate activities" as justification for the terror tag. Al Haq, for example, is described in the official announcement as "engaged on behalf of the [PFLP] in the promotion of steps against Israel in the international arena."
The PFLP is a secular, nationalist entity, dating back to the 1960s. It is the second-largest faction in the Palestine Liberation Organization after Fatah and calls for the liberation of all of historical Palestine.
The European Union and the United States have designated it a terrorist organization after attacks on Israeli targets. Its alleged links with Palestinian non-governmental organizations are a focus of lobby groups like NGO Monitor, which has been hailed by at least one Israeli lawmaker for securing the new terror designations.
Critics, though, say the real reason for attempts to link the NGOs with the PFLP is to discredit Palestinian dissent, a sentiment expressed in a joint statement by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
"For decades, Israeli authorities have systematically sought to muzzle human rights monitoring and punish those who criticize its repressive rule over Palestinians. How the international community responds will be a true test of its resolve to protect human rights defenders," the statement said.
Several members of the US House of Representatives denounced Israel's move, including Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota.
"I condemn this action to shut down legitimate civil society organizations advocating for Palestinian human rights. This is nothing more than an attempt to silence supporters of Palestinian rights," she said in a written statement. "It is anti-democratic, and contrary to the values expected of a US ally."
Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin said on Twitter: "Israel should rescind their blanket decision to label Palestinian civil rights organizations as terrorist groups. Many of these organizations are working to bring peace in the region and are vocal critics Hamas & the PA."