Israel Moves to Cancel Licenses of Aid Groups in Gaza

(MENAFN) On Sunday, Israel began revoking the operating permits of 37 international organizations providing humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, citing non-compliance with newly introduced registration requirements, according to a news agency.

By Tuesday, the government had started issuing formal notifications to numerous aid groups, informing them that their licenses would be terminated beginning January 2026, with operations required to cease by March of that year.

“Following the entry into force of the registration mechanism for international organizations in Gaza, the process of barring 37 international organizations from operating has begun,” the news agency reported.

Israeli authorities argued that “these organizations collectively transferred less than 1% of total humanitarian aid throughout the war, and that the scope of aid will not be affected by this decision.”

The broadcaster also claimed that security inquiries uncovered involvement of staff from Doctors Without Borders in “terrorist activities,” alleging that in two cases the group withheld full details about the identities and roles of its employees.

However, an Israeli newspaper suggested that the November decision to revoke licenses of international relief groups was driven primarily by political motives.

Israel has previously taken comparable measures against the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). In 2024, the Knesset passed legislation prohibiting UNRWA’s activities in Israel, citing accusations that some of its staff were linked to the October 7, 2023 events—claims the agency rejected. The UN has maintained that UNRWA upholds strict neutrality standards.

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