Israel says it will suspend licenses exceeding Three dozen aid organizations It is said to have failed to meet new demands for operations in war-torn Gaza, a move that could worsen the already dire situation for Palestinians in the enclave.

Israeli authorities said on Tuesday that organizations facing a ban from January 1, 2026 had failed to meet new requirements to share details about their staff, funding and operations.

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said that while humanitarian aid was welcome, “using the humanitarian framework for terrorism” was not.

A coalition of foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Japan and Nordic countries urged Israel to ensure “continuous and predictable” aid delivery by non-governmental organizations, while expressing serious concern about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

So why is Israel suspending these aid organizations, and how will this affect Palestinians in Gaza?

Why is Israel suspending the activities of these groups?

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Anti-Semitism said the measure was part of Israel’s decision to “strengthen and update” rules for monitoring the work of international non-governmental organizations in the war-torn Palestinian territories.

“Humanitarian organizations that fail to meet safety and transparency requirements will have their licenses revoked,” it said in a statement.

The ministry added that organizations that “failed to cooperate and refused to submit lists of Palestinian employees to rule out any links to terrorism” had been formally notified that their licenses would be revoked from January 1.

The aid group had 10 months to provide the requested information but “failed to comply,” the statement said.

One of the banned organizations is the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French abbreviation “MSF”. The department accused the agency of hiring two individuals with alleged ties to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but provided no evidence to support its claims.

“Despite repeated requests, the organization has not fully disclosed the identities and roles of these individuals,” the statement added.

In comments to AFP, Médecins Sans Frontières said it would “never knowingly employ personnel engaged in military activities” because they would “pose a danger to our staff and patients”.

The charity further said it “continues to engage and discuss with the Israeli authorities” and “has not yet received a decision to re-register”.

Earlier this year, more than 100 aid groups accused Israel of blocking life-saving assistance and urge it to end its war on Gaza “Weaponization of aid” after it refused to allow aid trucks to enter the affected areas.

Which major humanitarian organizations are banned from entering Gaza?

The 37 organizations or their divisions facing suspension or revocation of their licenses to operate in Gaza include several major international aid agencies:

• action against hunger
• action aid
• solidarity alliance
• Palestinian children’s movement
• care
• Dan Church Aid Society
• danish refugee council
• Disability International: Humanity and Inclusion
• Japan International Volunteer Center
• French Association of Doctors of the World
• Swiss World Doctors Association
• Doctors Without Borders Belgium
• Doctors Without Borders France
• Doctors Without Borders Netherlands
• Doctors Without Borders Spain
• world doctor
• Mercy Corps
• norwegian refugee council
• Oxfam Novib (Oxfam Netherlands affiliate)
• first international emergency
• Lausanne, the land of men
• international rescue committee
• world global value chain
• vision international
• international relief organization
• AVSI Foundation
• peace movement
• American Friends Service Committee
• Medico International
• Swedish Palestine Solidarity Association
• child protection international
• British Palestinian Medical Aid
• Charity International
• caritas jerusalem
• near east council of christians
• Oxfam Quebec
• war children netherlands

These organizations provide a range of services, including health care, food distribution, shelter, water and sanitation, education and psychological support.

Has Israel done this before?

This is not the first time Israel has taken steps to suspend or ban the operations of international humanitarian agencies providing support to Palestinians.

In 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed a law banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel, citing the involvement of some of the agency’s local staff in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

UNRWA, which for decades has been the main provider of aid, education, health and social services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and neighboring countries, strongly denies the accusations. The ban undermines UNRWA operations in the Palestinian territories as Israel controls access to Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

October, International Court of Justice (ICJ) Israel’s accusations against UNRWA were found to be unsubstantiated.

However, Israel’s claims prompted the United States, the largest donor in UNRWA’s history, to end funding. Other Western countries also Suspension of funding to the organization, but many people have since restored it.

What about Gaza’s own civil society?

The bans and restrictions on international and U.N. aid agencies are the backbone of what Israel’s critics say is a broader effort to make life in Gaza nearly impossible for the more than 2 million people in the Palestinian territories by destroying all the elements needed for any normal society.

For nearly two decades, Israel’s blockade of Gaza has restricted the movement of people and materials needed to develop the territory’s social and economic infrastructure. But over the past two years, against all odds, Israel’s genocidal war has destroyed what the Palestinians in Gaza had worked so hard to build.

According to the latest United Nations data, Israel has killed 579 aid workers since October 7, 2023, including nearly 400 UNRWA personnel. More than 1,700 health workers, more than 140 civil defense personnel and 256 journalists have been killed. In total, Israel’s genocidal war resulted in the deaths of more than 71,000 people in Gaza.

More than 80% of buildings Have been damaged or destroyed – including all 18 hospitals in Gaza attacked by Israel; 93% of school buildings and more than 63 university buildings. More than 77% of Gaza’s population faces severe food shortages.

United Nations Blame Israel Deliberately attacking Gaza’s medical infrastructure and killing health workers in an effort to destroy the enclave’s healthcare system.

Clean water is scarce, and desalination plants and sewage treatment systems have been hit hard, increasing the risk of disease.

Gaza was already suffering from a water crisis, Israeli bombings and ground operations before Israel launched its two-year genocidal war Damage exceeds 80% of the region’s water infrastructure.

Against the backdrop of the war, some aid groups said their Palestinian staff feared they could be targeted if their details were shared with Israel.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a statement “strongly” condemning Israel’s decision to impose new registration requirements on aid organizations, warning that the measures could halt the delivery of life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza.

“Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem,” the ministry said, noting that Palestinians welcomed the work of humanitarian organizations.

The European Union has warned that suspending aid groups in Gaza will prevent “life-saving” aid from reaching people.

EU humanitarian chief Hadja Lahbib posted on X: “The EU has made it clear: the NGO registration law cannot be implemented in its current form.”

“There is no doubt about IHL (international humanitarian law): aid must reach those in need.”

How will this affect Palestinians in Gaza?

Oxfam told Al Jazeera it hoped to be allowed to continue its work in Gaza.

“We are aware of the potential risks associated with Israel refusing to register various NGOs, including Oxfam,” said Matt Granger, head of media at Oxfam International. “We understand that any final decision will only be made following a formal letter from Israel, as well as an appeals process. We remain focused on continuing our humanitarian work in Gaza.”

Médecins Sans Frontières told Reuters that if it was banned from operating as the humanitarian crisis deepens, the impact would be devastating.

“If Médecins Sans Frontières is unable to operate in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of people will be unable to access health care,” the organization said, highlighting the risks to civilians who already struggle to access health care.

Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters that “Israel has and will continue to block the entry of life-saving aid when the needs of Gaza far outstrip the aid and services available.”

On Tuesday, Britain’s Foreign Office joined France, Canada and other countries in issuing a statement saying Israel should allow non-governmental organizations to work in Israel in a consistent and predictable manner.

They said deregistering the organizations would “severely impact access to essential services, including health care”.

“If international NGOs stop functioning, one-third of Gaza’s health facilities will close,” it added, referring to international NGOs. “As winter sets in, civilians in Gaza face dire conditions with torrential rains and falling temperatures.”