A report released by Wired claimed that the Israeli government had paid Google to execute a campaign that used targeted web advertisements to try and harm the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Israel claimed that UNRWA was assisting Hamas during this time, accusing twelve UNRWA employees of taking part in an October Hamas attack on Israel. Israeli officials also demanded that foreign donors cease supporting the organization, including the US among them.

The goal of the effort was to damage UNRWA’s reputation and reduce funding to UNRWA USA, which had experienced an increase in support because of the ongoing violence in Gaza.

According to a Google insider, the operation was especially unique because it was the first time in several years that the Israeli government has targeted political advertisements in Arab nations.

The campaign seemed to come to an end in May after Middle Eastern publishers and Israel’s foreign ministry were questioned by WIRED.

Since Google has no formal regulation regarding political advertisements from Israel outside of its borders, it is unclear if the ads are still running.

Concerns about Google making money off of what they see as Israel’s attempts to shift the blame for the Gaza situation onto UNRWA and hide its own involvement have been voiced by Google staff members. You shouldn’t be taking that money, an employee said.