53 International NGOs: Recent Israeli Measures Will Hinder Humanitarian Work in Gaza and the West Bank

SadaNews - International humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory have warned that recent Israeli registration measures "threaten to halt operations of international NGOs at a time when civilians face acute and widespread humanitarian needs, despite the ceasefire in Gaza."

The organizations stated in a statement today, Friday, that 37 international NGOs received a formal notification that their registration will expire on December 31, 2025, activating a 60-day period, after which these organizations will be required to stop their operations in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

They added that international NGOs are a crucial element in humanitarian response, as they work in partnership with the United Nations and Palestinian civil society organizations to provide lifesaving assistance on a large scale. The United Nations, the humanitarian country team, and donor governments have repeatedly affirmed that these organizations are indispensable to humanitarian and developmental operations and have urged Israel to retract this step.

Moreover, they highlighted that despite the ceasefire, humanitarian needs remain extremely severe. In Gaza, one in four families lives on just one meal a day.

The organizations pointed out that winter storms have led to the displacement of tens of thousands, leaving 1.3 million people in urgent need of shelter.

They continued: "International NGOs provide more than half of the food assistance in Gaza, manage or support 60% of field hospitals, implement nearly three-quarters of shelter and non-food item activities, and provide all services for treating children with acute severe malnutrition."

The organizations warned that "their exclusion would lead to the closure of health facilities, suspension of food distribution, collapsing shelter supply chains, and cutting off lifesaving care."

Regarding the West Bank, the organizations noted that "continuing Israeli incursions and settler violence have driven residents to displacement, and imposing additional restrictions on the work of international NGOs would sharply reduce the scope and continuity of lifesaving assistance at a critical moment."

They stated, "Recent efforts to assess the impact of canceling the registration of international NGOs through selective indicators do not reflect how humanitarian assistance is practically delivered, and humanitarian access should be measured by the extent to which civilians receive the appropriate assistance, in the right place, at the right time."

The organizations indicated that international NGOs operate under strict compliance frameworks imposed by donors and due diligence requirements in accordance with international standards. They added that "more than 500 humanitarian workers have been killed since October 7, 2023, and these organizations cannot share sensitive personal data with any party in the conflict as it constitutes a violation of humanitarian principles, duty of care, and data protection obligations. False narratives undermine the legitimacy of humanitarian organizations, endanger workers, and undermine assistance delivery."

The organizations considered that "this is not a technical or administrative matter, but a deliberate political choice with predictable consequences. If the cancellation and expiration of registration are passed, the Israeli government will obstruct the provision of humanitarian assistance on a wide scale. Humanitarian access is not a choice, nor is it conditional or politicized; it is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law."

They emphasized that "this step would set a dangerous precedent by expanding Israeli control over humanitarian operations in the occupied Palestinian territory, conflicting with the internationally recognized legal framework governing the region and the role of the Palestinian Authority."

They urged "the Israeli government to immediately halt registration cancellation procedures and stop actions that obstruct humanitarian assistance."

They also called on donor governments to use all available pressure tools to ensure these actions are suspended and retracted, emphasizing the need to protect independent and principled humanitarian operations to ensure civilians receive the urgent assistance they need.

Regarding the role of international NGOs in the health sector, they confirmed that they manage or support about 60% of field hospitals in Gaza, and deleting their registration would lead to the immediate closure of nearly a third of health facilities.

As for food security, the organizations provided more than half of the food assistance during 2024, including the majority of cooked meal distribution points.

Concerning shelter, international NGOs implemented approximately three-quarters of shelter and non-food item activities, with about 600,000 shelter materials currently within these organizations' supply chains.

On water and sanitation, international NGOs implement 42% of water, sanitation, and hygiene services, including prevention and response to acute watery diarrhea outbreaks.

Regarding nutrition, international NGOs support all five nutrition supplement centers treating children with acute severe malnutrition, accounting for 100% of the treatment capacity in Gaza.

In the area of mine action, the organizations provide over half of the funding allocated for explosive hazard removal, and their exclusion would result in a reduction of capacities by up to 100%.

In the education sector, international NGOs manage or support about 30% of emergency education activities, which do not even reach a limited percentage of school-aged children.

The organizations signing the statement pointed out that principled humanitarian organizations cannot share sensitive personal data of local employees or their family members, which aligns with humanitarian principles and the obligations of the duty of care, as well as global data protection standards applicable in all contexts, referring to the requirement of the Israeli occupation to share data on the workers of these institutions.

The institutions signing the statement include: Oxfam, Action Against Hunger, Humanity & Inclusion, ActionAid, American Friends Service Committee, Amnesty International, Italian Cooperazione e Solidarietà Internazionale, Cadus, Campaign for Palestinian Children (Japan), Care Canada, Care International (UK), Children Are Not Numbers, Churches for Middle East Peace, International Cooperation South-South, Arab-British Understanding Council, Dan Church Aid, Danish Refugee Council, Diakonia, EduKick, Emergency, and Terre des Hommes - Lausanne.

Among the organizations are also: Gilead, HEKS/EPER - Swiss Church Aid, Solidarity for Human Rights, Humanity and Inclusion - Handicap International, Interpal, Islamic Relief, Japan Volunteer Center (JVC), Médecins du Monde - Switzerland, Médecins du Monde - France, Doctors Without Borders, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Medico International, Doctors of the World - Spain, Mennonite Central Committee, Middle East Children Alliance, Norak - Norwegian Refugee Council, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People's Aid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Pax Christi - USA, Peace Winds Japan, Premier International Organizations, Quakers in Britain, Solidarité Internationale, Terre des Hommes - Italy, Bridge to, United Against Inhumanity, Vento di Terra, War Child Coalition, War on Poverty, and We World - JVC.