Overview
- Israel revoked licenses for 37 foreign NGOs effective January 1, ordering them to halt Gaza work by March 1 unless they submit detailed disclosures on personnel, funding and operations.
- Officials said the rules are meant to prevent infiltration of humanitarian structures by militant operatives, with Minister Amichai Chikli asserting that aid cannot be used as cover for terrorism.
- Targeted groups include Doctors Without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and World Vision; several refuse to hand over staff lists, citing privacy laws, neutrality concerns and risks to Palestinian employees.
- UN Secretary‑General António Guterres urged Israel to reverse the decision, warning it undermines ceasefire gains, while UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini called it a dangerous precedent and 18 Israeli NGOs denounced the policy.
- Foreign ministers of the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey demanded sustained, predictable and unrestricted access for UN and NGOs, highlighting nearly 1.9 million people in inadequate shelters during winter storms and urging the opening of Rafah and faster entry of essential supplies.