Israeli rights groups condemn government’s ban on aid groups operating in Gaza, West Bank

JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL

Nineteen Israeli human rights groups on Thursday condemned a government decision to cancel the registration of 37 international humanitarian groups operating in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

On Tuesday, the government began sending official notices to dozens of international organizations informing them that their licenses would be canceled starting from January 2026, and requiring them to end their activities by March of the same year.

“In parallel with, and as part of, Israel's assault on the people of Gaza, humanitarian access has been severely constrained since October 2023,” the rights groups, including Adalah and B'Tselem, said in a joint statement.

“Essential aid – including food, medicine, shelter, and hygiene items – continues to be delayed or denied,” they added.

The groups warned that prohibiting aid organizations from operating in Gaza and West Bank "undermines principled humanitarian action, endangers staff and communities, and compromises effective aid delivery.”

They called on the Israeli government to “immediately halt deregistration proceedings, remove barriers to humanitarian and human rights action, and allow international organizations to operate safely and effectively.”

Israel has previously taken similar steps against the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). In 2024, the Knesset passed legislation banning the UN agency’s activities in Israel, citing allegations that some UNRWA employees were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 events, claims the agency has denied. The UN has said UNRWA adheres to strict neutrality standards.

Israeli authorities later escalated measures against the agency, passing a law to cut water and electricity supplies to UNRWA facilities.