Jerusalem: 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.
According to Anadolu Agency, the rights groups, including Adalah and B'Tselem, expressed concerns in a joint statement, highlighting that humanitarian access has been severely constrained since October 2023. They emphasized that essential aid such as food, medicine, shelter, and hygiene items continues to face delays or denials.
The groups warned that prohibiting aid organizations from operating in these regions undermines humanitarian action, endangers staff and communities, and compromises effective aid delivery. They urged the Israeli government to 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 actions 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 which the agency has denied. The UN has maintained that UNRWA adheres to strict neutrality standards.
Israeli authorities later intensified measures against UNRWA, enacting a law to cut water and electricity supplies to its facilities.