Israel Tightens Control Over Gaza Aid, De-Registering NGOs Amidst Famine Concerns
Israel is enacting unprecedented measures to restrict the operations of international aid organizations in Gaza and the West Bank, raising alarm among humanitarian groups who fear a complete disruption of critical assistance.
The escalating restrictions come as Israel has banned the United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Gaza, accusing it, without evidence, of employing Hamas members. This is happening while a population faces widespread food insecurity and a looming famine.
“INGOs are in limbo – most who have submitted have either been not accepted or rejected,” a senior official with an aid organization aware of the situation stated, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public comment. The official described the application process for operating in Gaza and the West Bank as fraught with uncertainty.
Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered this month committing Israel to a surge in aid into Gaza, access remains severely limited. Of the seven Israeli border crossings with Gaza, only two are currently open, and requests to enter are routinely denied without clarification, according to the U.N. and aid groups. The Israeli military claims these restrictions are necessary for security, but has not provided supporting evidence.
This fall, Israel began requiring all international aid groups to re-register under new criteria, a process that includes approval from a committee featuring representatives from Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. Reasons for potential delisting include supporting “terrorist groups and activities” and “inciting racism,” as defined by COGAT, the Israeli military’s arm overseeing NGO operations. Aid organizations argue these broad definitions are being used to target groups critical of Israeli policies, with accusations of antisemitism frequently leveled.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), registered in Gaza as 2009, is currently unable to send supplies or staff while its application is under review. “We quickly realized that the intent behind the process wasn’t to facilitate the re-registration of humanitarian INGOs but rather to find a way to re-register us and to remove our ability to operate,” explained Ivan Karakashian,communications manager for the NRC in Jerusalem. He noted the lack of clear guidelines regarding what constitutes “delegitimizing Israel.” organizations that are de-registered face a 60-day deadline to cease operations in both Gaza and the West Bank.
The Israeli military has not responded to requests for comment regarding the delays and denials. Hundreds of trucks laden with aid remain stranded in Egypt and Jordan, awaiting permission to enter Gaza. at least one U.S.-based NGO has already been de-registered and is appealing the decision, while Mercy corps had a request to deliver aid denied due to its ongoing re-registration process.
Adding to the complexity, Israel has reportedly approved a dozen NGOs that do not operate within the traditional U.N.-led aid coordination structures, raising concerns about their experience and potential ideological biases. one U.S. aid group approved partnered with the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a militarized aid response rejected by most other organizations.
Simultaneously, Israel continues to ban UNRWA, the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza with 12,000 local staff, accusing it, without evidence, of employing Hamas members. Israel seeks to replace the long-standing U.N. aid system with option mechanisms. Tamara Alrifai, UNRWA’s director of external relations, emphasized the urgent need for aid, stating, “The warehouses in Jordan and Egypt are full of food that can feed the entire population of Gaza for three months and we need to bring that in.”
According to U.N. figures, Israeli airstrikes have damaged or destroyed over 90% of homes and most civilian infrastructure in Gaza. the United States’ decision to halt funding to UNRWA last year resulted in a 25% loss of the agency’s income, despite increased contributions from European and other nations. The European Union’s top humanitarian aid official has stated they found no evidence to support Israel’s accusations against UNRWA.
UNRWA is currently attempting to engage with the U.S. government, through intermediary countries, to reinstate funding. “We have not had direct talks but we have passed on messages through other governments who are close to Gaza and close to the U.S.,” Alrifai said.
