Israel has announced plans to revoke the licenses of 37 humanitarian organisations working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, citing non-compliance with new registration requirements. The suspensions will take effect on 1 January, with affected groups required to cease operations within 60 days.
Among those impacted are major international NGOs, including ActionAid, the International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council. Israeli authorities say the organisations failed to provide complete and verifiable personal information about their staff, a requirement under recently introduced regulations.
The decision has drawn strong criticism from foreign ministers in 10 countries, including the UK, France, Canada and Japan. In a joint statement, they described the rules as restrictive and unacceptable, warning that shutting down NGO operations would severely limit access to essential services such as healthcare. They also stressed that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic and urged Israel to allow aid groups to operate in a stable and predictable manner.
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, which oversees the registration process, said the measures would not affect the delivery of humanitarian aid. It stated that assistance would continue through approved channels, including UN agencies and vetted humanitarian partners, and argued that the new rules are necessary to prevent militant groups from exploiting humanitarian frameworks.
Israel’s military coordination body, Cogat, said the organisations facing suspension had not delivered aid to Gaza during the current ceasefire and that their overall contribution previously amounted to about 1% of total aid entering the territory. The ministry added that fewer than 15% of humanitarian organisations were found to be in violation of the new framework.
The regulations allow licences to be denied on several grounds, including supporting armed groups, denying Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state, backing boycotts of Israel, or supporting legal action against Israeli security forces abroad.
The Humanitarian Country Team for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which includes UN agencies and more than 200 organisations, warned that the new system threatens the ability of aid groups to operate. It said the criteria are vague and politicised, forcing organisations to choose between compliance and adherence to humanitarian principles.
According to the group, international NGOs currently provide much of Gaza’s healthcare, shelter, water and sanitation services, nutrition programmes for malnourished children, and mine action efforts.
Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, said humanitarian assistance remains welcome but insisted that it must not be used to support terrorism. Other organisations facing suspension include CARE, Medico International and Medical Aid for Palestinians.
