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UN raises alarm over Israeli registration rules for aid groups
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have warned that new Israeli registration requirements for international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) could trigger the collapse of critical aid operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Organizations failing to secure approval by 31 December face closure within 60 days, risking severe disruptions to healthcare and emergency services.
Registration system sparks controversy
Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism introduced the registration process in March, citing multiple grounds for rejection. As of now, 14 of roughly 100 applications have been denied, 21 approved, and the remainder remain under review, according to ministry officials.
The Humanitarian Country Team for the Occupied Palestinian Territory-a coalition of UN agencies and over 200 local and international organizations-condemned the system last week as a threat to humanitarian operations. The team argued the criteria are "vague, arbitrary, and highly politicized," imposing requirements that conflict with international law and core humanitarian principles.
"While some INGOs have been registered, they represent only a fraction of the response in Gaza and are nowhere near the number required to meet immediate and basic needs."
Humanitarian Country Team
Gaza's aid network at risk
The Humanitarian Country Team warned that INGOs currently manage or support most of Gaza's field hospitals, primary healthcare centers, emergency shelters, water and sanitation services, and nutrition programs for malnourished children. A forced shutdown of these operations could close one in three health facilities in Gaza, exacerbating an already dire situation.
The team added that the policy could undermine a fragile ceasefire and endanger Palestinian lives, particularly during winter. It emphasized that the UN cannot replace INGOs' work if they are deregistered, nor can alternative actors operate outside established humanitarian principles.
INGOs respond to rejections
Save the Children, which provides clean water, cash assistance, and healthcare clinics in Gaza, confirmed its application was denied. The organization is appealing the decision in Israeli courts while reaffirming its commitment to supporting Palestinian families through its 300 local staff and partners.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which runs two field hospitals and supports six public hospitals in Gaza, said it remains unregistered. MSF warned that losing access for experienced humanitarian groups would be catastrophic for Palestinians, given Gaza's already collapsed health system.
"The already restricted humanitarian response cannot be further dismantled."
Médecins Sans Frontières
Israel defends registration process
A spokesperson for Israel's diaspora affairs ministry told the BBC the deadline was extended from 9 September to 31 December as an "extraordinary measure." The ministry dismissed claims of mass rejections as "false and misleading," asserting that the process involved all relevant security and government bodies.
The spokesperson added that humanitarian aid would continue uninterrupted, arguing that the departure of "rogue organizations" would not affect ongoing assistance. However, aid agencies maintain that the rules violate international humanitarian law, which obligates Israel to ensure Gaza's population receives adequate supplies.
