The European Union (EU) warned on Wednesday that Israel’s decision to suspend several humanitarian organizations in the Gaza Strip under new registration rules will pose a major obstacle to providing “life-saving” aid to people living in the Palestinian territories. The Palestinian militant movement Hamas also condemned the move. According to him, this is a move directed against the Palestinians, and the movement called on the international community to prevent the ban. At the same time, Israel published a list of 37 organizations that will be affected by the ban. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency.
- The European Union expressed concern over Israel’s decision regarding the organizations.
- The decision may jeopardize the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
- Israel published a list of 37 organizations affected by the measure.
- Humanitarian groups express concern about the impact on the local population.
- Hamas called on the international community to condemn the measure.
“The occupation government’s decision to revoke the operating licenses of dozens of international humanitarian organizations represents a dangerous escalation and gross disregard for the humanitarian system,” Hamas said in a statement. “We call on the international community, especially the United Nations, to take swift and effective measures to condemn this criminal behavior,” the militants added.
They cite a change in requirements
The Israeli authorities announced on Tuesday that they will suspend the activities of several humanitarian organizations in the Gaza Strip from the beginning of 2026, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The government in Jerusalem justified the decision by saying that the affected organizations do not meet the new requirements for providing information about their employees, funding and activities. MSF also accused them of failing to clarify the roles of some of its staff, whom Israel accuses of collaborating with Hamas and other militant groups.
Israel then announced on Wednesday that 37 humanitarian organizations will be banned from operating in Gaza from Thursday unless they comply with the new directives. “They refuse to provide lists of their Palestinian employees… They will have to fully and transparently meet all the criteria set. No shortcuts, no tricks,” diaspora affairs ministry spokesman Gilad Zwick told AFP.
The rules will worsen the flow of aid
In addition to MSF, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), World Vision, CARE and the international charity Oxfam also made it to the list. Several non-governmental organizations told AFP that the new rules would have a major impact on the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip, which they said had already been insufficient.
The head of the EU’s humanitarian section, Hadja Lahbibová, in response to this decision, wrote on the X platform that international humanitarian law leaves no room for doubt and “aid must reach those who need it.”
“The EU has expressed itself clearly: the law on the registration of non-governmental organizations cannot be applied in its current form,” she said.
