Starting Thursday, Israel will prohibit the operations of 37 humanitarian organizations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, citing non-compliance with new registration laws. The Israeli regime claims these organizations failed to provide personal information about their staff, a requirement that aid groups argue could jeopardize the safety of their employees.
Internationally recognized NGOs, including ActionAid, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and the International Rescue Committee, are among those whose licenses will be suspended, forcing them to halt relief operations within sixty days.
This decision has been met with condemnation from several countries, highlighting its potential to significantly disrupt access to essential aid and healthcare services. Foreign ministers from ten nations, including the UK, France, Canada, and Japan, issued a joint statement condemning the move as restrictive and unacceptable. They emphasized the already “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged Israel to allow international NGOs to operate in a “sustainable and predictable” manner.
Israel’s Ministry of Immigration claims that the new regulations will not impede the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, a coalition of UN agencies and over 200 local and international organizations has previously warned that Israel’s registration system poses a fundamental threat to the operations of international NGOs, deeming it vague, arbitrary, and politically motivated. They assert that the imposed requirements could force humanitarian organizations to violate international legal obligations or compromise core humanitarian principles.
