Israeli crowdfunding platform, IsraelGives, has recently come under scrutiny for enabling US residents to donate millions of dollars to causes including illegal West Bank settlements, paramilitary groups, and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units currently operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Despite potential illegality under US tax law, legal experts suggest that enforcement on donors to Israeli causes is rarely implemented.

IsraelGives, founded in 2009 by Israeli entrepreneurs Jonathan Ben-Dor and Joseph Hitler, offers a platform similar to GoFundMe and other crowdfunding operations, allowing nonprofits in Israel to solicit funds. The platform, connected to an international network of linked non-profits, also permits smaller donors in the US and other countries to claim tax deductions on funds supporting war and settlement activities in the occupied territories.

The Guardian has identified at least 450 live fundraising campaigns on IsraelGives. Out of these, 204 campaigns initiated after 7 October sought donations for tactical equipment or logistical support for various beneficiaries including the IDF, individual IDF units, and paramilitary squads attached to specific Israeli communities, particularly West Bank settlements.

The international community considers West Bank settlements illegal, yet the Benjamin Netanyahu government has announced plans to expand their construction. Since 7 October, a total of $5.3 million in donations has been pledged to support military, paramilitary, or settler-related causes. Many of these donors indicated their US residency.

Specific campaigns aimed at supporting illegal settlements include those for Efrat, Tene (Tene Omarum by settlers), Shavei Shomron, and Ma'on (Havat Ma'on). The "Emergency Campaign for Havat Ma'on's Security Team" raised over $7,700, attracting donors from various US states such as Florida, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania.

While IsraelGives suggests that they facilitate donations to various causes complying with US law, questions regarding the compliance of donations to West Bank settlements were met with no response from founder and CEO Jonathan Ben-Dor. Diala Shamas, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, argues that although donations to communities like Ma'on are illegal under international and potentially US law, enforcement has been lacking. However, initiatives such as the "Not on Our Dime" bill aim to declare funding for Israeli settlement activity illegal.

Additionally, numerous IDF-related campaigns on IsraelGives have garnered donations from US residents. For instance, the "Maglan Friends Foundation" received $25,443 to support Maglan, an elite commando unit of the IDF. Other fundraisers sought funds for specific units or standard equipment needed by soldiers operating in Gaza.

The legality and potential risks associated with giving to Israeli causes have raised concerns among civil rights lawyers, highlighting Israel's record of impunity regarding international law. While IsraelGives acts as a neutral broker, facilitating giving to various non-profit organizations, the platform's role in supporting illegal settlements and IDF units has sparked calls for stricter enforcement and accountability.

As of now, there has been no official response from IsraelGives or the IRS concerning the legality of these crowdfunding campaigns.

In an increasingly strained military landscape, the demand for funding and equipment by certain units within the IDF reveals the challenges they face in maintaining operational readiness, according to Lara Friedman, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace.

As scrutiny grows, both within the international community and through initiatives like the "Not on Our Dime" bill, the practices surrounding donations to Israeli causes and their potential legal implications are coming under sharper focus.