Israel announced on Thursday that 37 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Gaza had failed to meet newly imposed “security and transparency standards” and will be required to cease operations by March 1, 2026. The move has drawn international criticism and warnings from the United Nations that the ban could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the conflict-affected territory.
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism stated that the NGOs had not provided sufficient information on their Palestinian staff and other operational details, which Israel said were essential to prevent infiltration of terrorist operatives.
“Organisations that have failed to meet required security and transparency standards will have their licenses suspended,” the ministry said.
Israel introduced the new regulations in March, giving NGOs a ten-month window to fully disclose their personnel, funding sources, and operational structures. The deadline expired on Wednesday.
“The primary failure identified was the refusal to provide complete and verifiable information regarding their employees, a critical requirement designed to prevent the infiltration of terrorist operatives into humanitarian structures,” the ministry added.
Reactions from NGOs and International Bodies
Several NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), World Vision International, and Oxfam, have objected to the requirements, arguing that they violate international humanitarian law or compromise their independence. MSF specifically stated that sharing detailed staff lists could endanger its neutral and impartial operations, emphasizing that it would never knowingly employ individuals engaged in military activities.
“Such arbitrary suspensions make an already intolerable situation even worse for the people of Gaza,” said UN rights chief Volker Turk.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, warned that the ban sets a “dangerous precedent” for the independence and neutrality of humanitarian aid globally, while 18 Israel-based left-wing NGOs condemned the move as “weaponisation of bureaucracy.”
“This institutionalizes barriers to aid and forces vital organizations to suspend operations,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of ten countries, including France and the United Kingdom, urged Israel to guarantee access to humanitarian aid, describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic.”
Humanitarian Context
The announcement comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza following the deadly conflict triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. UN data indicates that nearly 80 percent of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, with around 1.5 million residents displaced from their homes.
Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza, described the potential NGO ban as an additional threat to civilians already grappling with dire conditions.
Israel maintains that the regulations are necessary to prevent exploitation of humanitarian frameworks for terrorist purposes.
“The message is clear: humanitarian assistance is welcome the exploitation of humanitarian frameworks for terrorism is not,” said Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza without compromising the safety and neutrality of organizations providing assistance.
