Israel has announced plans to suspend the operations of more than three dozen humanitarian organisations working in the Gaza Strip, raising serious concerns among aid agencies and European governments as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate.
Israeli authorities said that permits for over 37 aid organisations will not be renewed under a new regulatory framework that comes into effect on Thursday. Officials stated that the affected groups failed to comply with updated requirements, including the disclosure of detailed information about staff, funding sources, and operational activities.
Among the organisations facing suspension are major international aid providers such as Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF), the Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE International, the International Rescue Committee, and local branches of global charities including Oxfam and Caritas. The decision impacts organisations delivering essential services across Gaza, including food assistance, medical care, mental health support, services for people with disabilities, and education.
Israeli officials accused MSF of failing to clarify the roles of certain staff members and alleged links with Hamas. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said Israel supports humanitarian aid but warned against what he described as the misuse of aid structures.“The message is clear: humanitarian assistance is welcome, but the exploitation of humanitarian frameworks for terrorism is not,” Chikli said. MSF strongly rejected the accusations, warning that Israel’s decision would severely undermine healthcare services in Gaza.
The organisation said it supports roughly 20 percent of hospital beds in the territory and assists with nearly one-third of all births.“MSF would never knowingly employ individuals involved in military activity,” the organisation said in a statement.
International humanitarian groups have described Israel’s new rules as arbitrary, warning they will further constrain already limited aid operations. Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestine NGOs Network, said the move appeared to be part of a broader effort that would intensify Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. He added that restrictions on aid are directly contributing to displacement and worsening living conditions for Palestinians. Dr James Smith, a British doctor who previously volunteered in Gaza and was later denied re-entry, warned that the consequences would be swift and devastating.“An already horrific situation will become even more horrific,” he said, describing the measures as ruthless in practice.
Israel’s announcement comes as at least 10 countries voiced grave concern over what they described as a renewed deterioration in Gaza’s humanitarian situation. Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland issued a joint statement warning of catastrophic winter conditions.
According to the statement, around 1.3 million people still urgently need shelter, while more than half of Gaza’s healthcare facilities are only partially operational and suffering from critical shortages. The countries urged Israel to allow international NGOs to operate in Gaza in a sustained and predictable manner and called for the opening of land crossings to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
