ISTANBUL

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Wednesday condemned Israel's suspension of humanitarian aid organizations working in Gaza, calling it a violation of international law.

"Banning Doctors Without Borders and 36 other aid organizations is an unprecedented and evil act of cruelty," the organization said on US social media company X.

Earlier CAIR had said in a separate statement that targeting humanitarian organizations "working in Gaza to alleviate the suffering caused by Israel's genocide" is a "clear violation" of international humanitarian law and a "direct assault on basic principles of human dignity."

"Humanitarian workers are not combatants, and lifesaving aid must never be treated as a weapon of war," the group said.

It called on Congress to condemn these actions and take steps to protect humanitarian workers and ensure uninterrupted aid flow to Gaza's civilian population.

"The Israeli government is completely out of control because it has not faced any real consequences for committing a genocide with American taxpayer dollars," the organization said on X statement. "It's time for Congress to listen to the American people, not AIPAC."

Israel said it is suspending humanitarian organizations that failed to meet new rules to vet international groups working in Gaza.

Doctors Without Borders warned last week that Israel's new registration requirements risk leaving hundreds of thousands without lifesaving healthcare in 2026.

Despite a ceasefire agreement taking effect in October, Israel continues keeping Gaza's crossings largely closed, preventing entry of mobile homes and reconstruction materials.

Palestinian officials say at least 414 people in Gaza have been killed since the ceasefire.