Israel Suspends Licenses of 37 Humanitarian Organizations Amid Global Concerns

Wed Dec 31 2025 16:12:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Israeli government is set to suspend operations of 37 international NGOs in Gaza and the West Bank, prompting warnings from the UK and EU about the impact on humanitarian aid.

Israel plans to revoke the licenses of 37 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) operating in Gaza and the West Bank, citing non-compliance with new registration requirements. This decision, which includes major aid agencies like Médecins Sans Frontières, could significantly hinder humanitarian efforts in the region, leading to condemnation from multiple countries. The INGOs contend that the compliance measures unnecessarily jeopardize their staff's safety and would block essential medical and social services for vulnerable populations.

Israel is to revoke the licences of 37 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying they failed to meet requirements under new registration rules.

ActionAid, International Rescue Committee, Médecins Sans Frontières and Norwegian Refugee Council are among the aid agencies which will have their licences suspended on 1 January, with their operations to end within 60 days.

Israel said they had, among other things, failed to hand over 'complete' personal details of their staff. The INGOs claimed that could put them at risk.

The move has been condemned by representatives of ten countries, emphasizing that the restrictions could severely limit access to essential services.

In a joint statement, foreign ministers from the UK, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland highlighted the integral role of INGOs in the humanitarian response in Gaza. They warned, Without them, it will be impossible to meet all urgent needs at the scale required.

The European Union's humanitarian chief, Hadja Lahbib, remarked that Israel's blockade on INGOs translates to a blockade on life-saving aid, insisting that international humanitarian law mandates that necessary aid must reach those in need.

The Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory urged Israeli authorities to reconsider the registration decision, stating that most of Gaza’s essential healthcare services are supported by INGOs.

Israel’s ministry of diaspora affairs contended that the new procedures would not influence humanitarian aid flow, asserting that assistance continues to be channeled through approved bodies such as UN agencies. However, the ministry cited security concerns, including fears that individuals linked to terrorism had infiltrated humanitarian organizations.

As tension escalates, the INGOs maintain that these regulatory measures jeopardize their operations and the lives of countless people dependent on their support in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation remains dire.