Israel will suspend the permits for more than two dozen humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza, including Doctors Without Borders. Tel Aviv announced this decision, which will exclude 15% of NGOs for not complying with new evaluation criteria. The revocation of licenses for these aid groups will take effect on January 1, and those based in Israel must leave by March 1. Earlier this year, Israel changed its registration process for aid groups, requiring them to submit a list of staff, including Palestinians in Gaza. Some aid groups explained that they did not provide the Palestinian staff list due to fears of Israeli reprisals and European data protection laws. "This comes from a legal and security perspective. In Gaza, we have seen hundreds of humanitarian workers killed," said Shaina Low, communications advisor for the Norwegian Refugee Council. The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs accused these NGOs of not sharing sufficient information about their staff, funding, and operations. Israeli authorities state that the goal of these measures is to strengthen oversight of humanitarian work in the enclave. The accusations include claims against Doctors Without Borders for failing to clarify the roles of employees allegedly linked to Hamas and other militant groups. The medical organization reiterated that it would never knowingly employ individuals involved in military activities. These restrictions add to existing tensions over the volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, which many NGOs consider insufficient for the enclave's population of over two million. Other major organizations whose permits were not renewed include the Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE International, the International Rescue Committee, and branches of large charities like Oxfam and Caritas. These entities provide a wide range of essential services, including food distribution, healthcare, assistance to people with disabilities, education, and mental health support. International organizations have strongly criticized the decision, warning that Israel's new rules are arbitrary and could endanger on-the-ground humanitarian personnel. COGAT, the Israeli body overseeing humanitarian aid to Gaza, stated that the listed organizations contribute less than 1% of the total aid entering the Strip, and that assistance will continue through more than 20 organizations that did receive permits. The Israeli parliament had previously passed a reform stripping UNRWA of its immunity and authorizing the confiscation of its properties in East Jerusalem, as well as the cutting of essential supplies. The UN agency, which assists 5.9 million Palestinian refugees, described the measure as "illegal and shocking worldwide."
