As of January 1st of 2026, Israel revoked the operating licenses of nearly 40 international humanitarian aid organizations in Gaza and West Bank, including Doctors Without Borders (also known as MSF, one of the largest) for allegedly failing to comply with new registration requirements. The new rules for registration require NGOs to disclose detailed information about its staff members (specifically Palestinian employees), funding sources, and operations.
Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and COGAT made a follow-up statement saying the measures ensure transparency and security, and that MSF was singled out for allegedly failing to address claims that some staff had ties to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Officials also claim that compliant groups (over 20) continue operations, and the banned ones represent only about 15% of NGOs in Gaza, contributing minimally to recent aid volumes.
MSF has responded by denying knowledge of having employed anyone with ties to Hamas, and that they have complied with most of the new regulations. Additionally, MSF is a major voice of concern over the IDF's attacks on aid workers. Other banned aid groups such as CARE and the International Rescue Committee have also spoken out against the new regulations, claiming that publicly disclosing details about staff members has protection risks. MSF has warned Israel that the ban will greatly impact healthcare in Gaza, as its staff are responsible for ~20% of hospital beds and a 3rd of childbirths. MSF says its absence will leave over half a million Palestinians without aid.
This decision has led to overwhelming condemnation from the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council, deeming it 'outrageous and unlawful'. The UN Security Council has urged Israel to reverse their mandate to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
This follows previous restrictions placed by Israel on the UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), limiting its operating locations, blocking supplies, and stripping its diplomatic immunities.
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