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Court intervenes ahead of deadline
Israel's High Court has temporarily blocked a government order that would have forced 37 international aid organizations to halt operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. The injunction arrived just days before a 1 March cutoff, when groups including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Oxfam, and Save the Children faced losing their licenses unless they complied with new Israeli regulations.
Ceasefire context
Four months into a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, over two million residents depend on humanitarian assistance for food, medical care, and clean water. In the West Bank, aid workers have been supporting Palestinians displaced by expanding Israeli settlements and settler violence.
New rules and legal challenge
In December, Israel informed the organizations that their registrations had lapsed. They were given 60 days to renew under stricter conditions-including disclosing full staff rosters, funding sources, and operational structures-or cease work. Seventeen NGOs jointly petitioned the High Court, arguing that Israel, as an occupying power, must uphold international humanitarian law.
On Friday, Justice Dafna Barak-Erez acknowledged a "real legal dispute" and granted the temporary injunction, allowing more time for review.
Government stance and allegations
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government has targeted international and Palestinian NGOs, as well as UN agencies, citing security concerns. It has banned the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel, affecting its work in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israel claims some aid groups, including UNRWA and MSF, have been infiltrated by Palestinian armed factions. The organizations deny these allegations, calling them politically motivated.
"This has nothing to do with countering terrorism. We vet every staff member against global sanctions lists, and our screening satisfies American and European authorities,"
Jan Egeland, Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
The Diaspora Affairs Ministry, which oversees the new rules, states its aim is to prevent ties to armed groups following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks that triggered the Gaza war. It lists grounds for license revocation, such as "delegitimizing Israel," criticizing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), or "cooperating with terrorist organizations."
Humanitarian groups resist
Aid organizations refuse to share staff details, citing risks to workers-hundreds of whom have been killed in Gaza-and violations of EU data protection laws. They argue the new system undermines long-standing principles of independent, neutral humanitarian action.
Alexandra Saieh, Head of Humanitarian Policy at Save the Children, warns deregistration prevents international staff from supporting local teams, worsening conditions in Gaza.
"The obstacles slow down aid delivery and have a catastrophic impact on people in Gaza. We're not seeing improvements at the pace needed during a ceasefire,"
Alexandra Saieh, Save the Children
Specific allegations and operational fallout
Israel has accused MSF of "grave misconduct," claiming some employees have links to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. MSF denies the charges, noting that 15 of its workers have been killed in the war. In one case, a physiotherapist killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2024 was later identified by Islamic Jihad as a commander involved in rocket production.
Will Edmond, MSF's Head of Mission in Gaza, states the organization screens all staff and would never knowingly employ anyone affiliated with armed groups. He calls Israel's demand for staff lists a "dangerous precedent" that violates humanitarian principles.
The Diaspora Ministry reports that of 117 NGOs that applied under the new rules, 27 were approved, 11 rejected, and the rest remain under review or face closure. The 11 rejected groups account for about 1% of Gaza's total humanitarian aid, according to the ministry.
"Aid continues through legitimate channels operated by organizations that comply with international law and do not cooperate with terrorist groups,"
Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism
Broader implications
With foreign journalists barred from entering Gaza except on IDF-embedded tours, aid workers and medics have been key international witnesses. Many have criticized Israel's conduct of the war and restrictions on aid, which at one point led the UN to declare a famine.
In early 2025, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed group, was established to distribute food as an alternative to the UN. After deadly shootings at its sites, the GHF ended its mission by year's end.
The NGOs welcome the court's injunction but remain uncertain about their future operations. A final ruling date has not been set.
