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Israel to Suspend Dozens of International Aid Groups From Gaza on Jan. 1

Israel cites new vetting rules requiring staff lists, with UN and European officials warning the move will jeopardize lifesaving aid in winter.

Overview

  • Officials said 37 NGOs failed to meet registration rules demanding detailed staff, funding and operations data, triggering license revocations on January 1 and a March 1 exit for Israel-based offices.
  • Groups named include Médecins Sans Frontières, the Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE, the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam and Caritas; Israel alleges some MSF staff links to militant groups, which MSF denies.
  • COGAT said the suspended organizations collectively contributed about 1% of aid and that deliveries would continue via more than 20 authorized groups, targeting roughly 4,200 trucks per week.
  • Humanitarian organizations argue the requirements are arbitrary and dangerous, saying staff-list disclosures conflict with data-protection laws and could expose Palestinian employees to targeting.
  • UN rights chief Volker Türk, the EU and foreign ministers from 10 countries urged Israel to guarantee NGO access, pointing to catastrophic conditions in Gaza during winter despite a fragile ceasefire.