The humanitarian landscape in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip faces a looming crisis as new Israeli registration rules for international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) threaten to disrupt vital aid operations. The UN and other aid agencies have expressed deep concern that dozens of INGOs may be forced to close, jeopardizing healthcare, emergency support, and life-saving services for Palestinians in the region.
Under the new rules, INGOs must be registered by 31 December, or they risk having their operations in Israel shut down within 60 days. The rules have already raised alarms among organizations such as Save the Children and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which provide essential healthcare, clean water, emergency shelters, and nutrition programs for children and families in Gaza. Save the Children confirmed that its registration application has not yet been approved and said it is pursuing all legal avenues to challenge the decision. MSF similarly highlighted the catastrophic consequences for patients if independent humanitarian organizations are blocked from operating.
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has defended the registration system, arguing that the departure of “rogue organizations” will not affect aid delivery. Out of roughly 100 applications, 14 have been rejected, 21 approved, and the remainder are still under review. The criteria for rejection are broad, including denying Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state, denying the Holocaust or the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, supporting armed struggle against Israel, promoting delegitimization campaigns, calling for boycotts, or supporting prosecutions of Israeli security forces in international courts.
The Humanitarian Country Team — a coalition of UN agencies and over 200 local and international organizations — warned that these criteria are “vague, arbitrary, and highly politicised.” They stressed that complying with the rules could force organizations to violate international legal obligations or compromise core humanitarian principles. Currently, INGOs operate the majority of Gaza’s field hospitals, primary healthcare centers, emergency shelters, water and sanitation programs, nutrition centers for malnourished children, and mine action activities. If these organizations are forced to withdraw, one in three health facilities in Gaza could close, putting countless lives at risk.
The UN and aid groups caution that Israel has a legal obligation under international humanitarian law to ensure Gaza’s population receives adequate support. They argue that the collapse of INGOs cannot be offset by alternative actors working outside established humanitarian standards, and that the move could threaten a fragile ceasefire and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, particularly during the winter months.
Despite the extended registration deadline, Israeli officials maintain that sufficient time has been provided for compliance and that the process is being conducted with the involvement of relevant security and government bodies. They argue that claims of widespread rejections are misleading and insist that humanitarian aid will continue uninterrupted, framing the rules as a measure against organizations whose activities are seen as undermining the state under the guise of humanitarian work.
The situation highlights a critical tension between political considerations and humanitarian necessity, raising urgent questions about the future of aid operations in Gaza and the well-being of millions of Palestinians who rely on these essential services.