Israeli Rights Groups Condemn NGOs Deregistration in Palestine

DID Press: 19 Israeli human rights organizations, along with several international bodies, have condemned the Israeli government’s decision to revoke the operational licenses of 37 international relief and non-governmental organizations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

Israel has announced that, beginning 1 January 2026, these organizations will be barred from operating unless they comply with new security and administrative rules requiring detailed disclosures about both their Palestinian and international staff. Critics have described the move as unlawful, discriminatory, and a violation of international humanitarian law.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called the decision “outrageous” and urged the international community to respond, warning that the restrictions will worsen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and further impede access to essential aid.

International organizations and European partners also cautioned that excluding relief agencies from the field would intensify shortages of food, medical services, and other basic necessities for Palestinians.

Human rights advocates stressed that allegations linking these groups to Hamas have not been substantiated, and warned that shutting them down could drastically reduce humanitarian assistance across the region.

The decision comes as Gaza continues to face a severe humanitarian emergency driven by conflict and prolonged blockade, with hundreds of thousands of residents reliant on international aid for survival.