By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Israel has announced plans to ban 37 international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the Gaza Strip, citing their failure to comply with newly introduced security and transparency regulations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said the affected organisations did not meet a ten-month deadline to disclose detailed information about their personnel, funding sources and operational structures.
The ministry said the groups would have their licences revoked from January 1, 2026, and must cease all activities in Gaza by March 1.
“Organisations that have failed to meet required security and transparency standards will have their licences suspended,” the ministry said, adding that the primary concern was the refusal of some NGOs to provide “complete and verifiable information regarding their employees”.
Israel said the new regulations were designed to prevent humanitarian structures from being exploited by individuals linked to militant groups. According to the ministry, the failure to comply raised concerns about the potential infiltration of terrorist operatives into aid organisations.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian groups, the United Nations and several governments, who warn the move could worsen Gaza’s already severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has cautioned that the suspension of NGO operations would significantly restrict the delivery of aid to the war-ravaged territory.
Several NGOs affected by the ban argue that the requirements undermine their independence and contravene international humanitarian law. Among those named are Doctors Without Borders (MSF), World Vision International and Oxfam.
Israel accused MSF of employing two individuals allegedly linked to Palestinian militant groups, Islamic Jihad and Hamas. MSF has rejected the allegation, saying it would never knowingly employ anyone engaged in military activity. The organisation also said that providing a full list of its staff could violate Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.
Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, defended the government’s decision, saying humanitarian assistance was welcome, but would not be allowed to serve as a cover for terrorism.
“The message is clear: humanitarian aid is welcome — the exploitation of humanitarian frameworks for terrorism is not,” he said. On Thursday, 18 Israel-based left-wing NGOs condemned the move, describing it as a “weaponisation of bureaucracy” that threatens core humanitarian principles of neutrality and independence. They warned that the policy would force vital organisations to suspend operations at a time of extreme need.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, described the decision as “outrageous,” saying it would worsen conditions for civilians in Gaza. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini also warned that the move sets a “dangerous precedent” for humanitarian work globally.
The foreign ministers of 10 countries, including France and the United Kingdom, have urged Israel to guarantee access for humanitarian aid, warning that conditions in Gaza remain “catastrophic”.
According to UN data, nearly 80 per cent of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged since the conflict began. About 1.5 million of Gaza’s more than two million residents have been displaced, according to Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since October, following Israel’s military offensive launched in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli territory.
