AMSTERDAM — A Dutch court has cleared the way for the extradition of Palestinian journalist Mustafa Ayyash to Austria, where he faces charges of financing Hamas, authorities said Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera News. Ayyash, the founder of the news site Gaza Now, has denied the allegations and has been imprisoned in the Netherlands since September 19 while contesting the extradition.
Ayyash fled Austria earlier this year, claiming that authorities raided his home and physically assaulted his pregnant wife. He had lived in Austria since 2016 but sought refuge in the Netherlands after losing relatives during Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza. “He was actually in Gaza when his family’s home was bombed,” Al Jazeera correspondent Step Vassen reported from Amsterdam. “Many of his family members passed away, and his relatives believe he was targeted as a journalist for doing his job.”
Austrian authorities accuse Ayyash of soliciting donations through Gaza Now for humanitarian efforts that they claim indirectly supported Hamas. Similar sanctions were imposed on the organization in 2024 by the United States and United Kingdom, which cited the site’s fundraising as materially assisting the militant group.
While the Dutch court approved extradition, it did not make any determination regarding Ayyash’s guilt. If convicted in Austria, he could face up to 10 years in prison. His legal team has highlighted his deteriorating mental health, noting that he is currently housed in the psychiatric ward of the Dutch prison where he is held.
The case unfolds against the backdrop of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has claimed over 69,000 Palestinian lives and injured more than 170,000 since October 2023. Journalists have been particularly affected, with nearly 300 media workers killed, including 10 from Al Jazeera, raising concerns about press freedom and safety in the region.
