Aid Workers Face New Barriers in Gaza and West Bank

The pause by an Israeli court comes just before a deadline that would shut down 37 well‑known aid groups. The move threatens to cut off vital supplies for people in Gaza, where over two million depend on food, water and medical care. In the West Bank, charities have been helping Palestinians displaced by settlement expansion. In December Israel sent letters to groups such as Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council. The letters said their permits had expired and gave 60 days to comply with new rules or stop working by March 1. The government says the changes aim to block links between aid workers and armed groups that it believes are linked to Hamas. The new rules require NGOs to disclose staff names, funding sources and organisational structures. Aid groups say this violates privacy laws in Europe and clashes with long‑standing humanitarian principles that stress independence. Many see the licensing system as politically motivated, designed to keep independent witnesses out of Palestinian areas.

Some NGOs argue that their staff are already screened against international sanctions lists. They claim the new demands would expose them to danger and set a dangerous precedent for aid programmes worldwide. The organisations say that losing licences will prevent them from bringing in international staff, which would hurt the ability to treat patients and provide essential services. Israel has also barred journalists from Gaza, limiting outside eyes on the conflict. Earlier this year a US‑Israeli backed charity called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was shut after attacks on its sites. The ministry says only a small fraction of aid NGOs have been rejected, but the impact on ground operations is significant. The tension illustrates a clash between security concerns and humanitarian needs. While the government insists it is protecting its citizens, aid groups warn that halting relief will cause “irreparable harm” to already vulnerable populations.

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