Jerusalem, 1 January 2026 – The Government of Israel has announced that licences for 37 international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the Gaza Strip will be suspended after the groups failed to meet newly imposed regulatory requirements, officials said on Thursday.
In a statement, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said the organisations did not comply with “security and transparency standards”, particularly in providing detailed information on their Palestinian staff. As a result, they will be expected to wind down their operations by 1 March 2026.
“Organisations that have failed to meet required security and transparency standards will have their licences suspended,” the ministry said, underscoring its position that the move is intended to ensure humanitarian efforts are not exploited by armed groups.
Among the groups affected are widely recognised aid agencies such as Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), World Vision International and Oxfam. Israeli authorities have previously accused some organisations of refusing to disclose comprehensive personnel records and have linked certain staff members to militant activity claims the NGOs have strongly denied.
In response, several of the organisations cited concerns that the new requirements could undermine their independence and violate international humanitarian principles. MSF, in particular, described the staff disclosure demands as potentially inconsistent with legal obligations to protect personnel and insisted it would never knowingly employ individuals involved in military activity.
The decision comes against the backdrop of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where years of conflict have devastated infrastructure and displaced large portions of the population. United Nations data indicate that a significant share of buildings has been destroyed or damaged, with many families left without secure shelter.
The announcement has drawn widespread criticism from international observers. The United Nations rights chief denounced the ban as arbitrary, warning it could worsen conditions for civilians already struggling amid limited access to essential services. Foreign ministers from several countries including the United Kingdom and France, have urged Israel to guarantee sustained and predictable humanitarian access.
Israeli officials, however, maintain that the regulations are necessary to protect security and emphasise that humanitarian assistance is still welcome from organisations that meet the stipulated criteria.
With the deadline now in effect, the fate of thousands of residents reliant on the services provided by the affected NGOs remains uncertain, and global attention is likely to focus on the impact of the ban in the weeks ahead.
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