Israeli ban on Gaza aid agencies sparks fears of humanitarian collapse

Israel’s recent decision to ban dozens of aid organisations operating in Gaza is expected to have “catastrophic” consequences for the delivery of vital services and could put Palestinian lives “at imminent risk,” diplomats, humanitarian workers, and experts warned.

Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs informed 37 NGOs working in Gaza that they must cease operations within 60 days unless they comply with stringent new regulations, including the disclosure of personal details of their staff. The ministry said the measures were necessary to prevent organisations from employing individuals with links to extremist groups and to ensure that Hamas does not exploit international aid, The Guardian reports.

Israel has repeatedly alleged that Hamas has diverted aid supplies for military or political purposes, though it has provided limited evidence. Aid groups, however, say they have engaged with Israeli officials for months to address such concerns.

“We have made strenuous efforts to comply even if these demands are made nowhere else. We do extensive vetting ourselves. It would be disastrous for us to have any armed combatants or people linked to armed groups among our staff,” said Athena Rayburn, executive director of the Association of International Development Agencies, which represents over 100 NGOs in Gaza and the West Bank. “We have proposed alternatives to meet this requirement, and they have refused.”

Israeli officials claimed the affected NGOs supply only 15% of Gaza’s humanitarian aid, but aid workers said this underestimates their impact. Many NGOs operate clinics, run malnutrition screening, and provide hygiene and shelter support under UN contracts. A senior UN official warned the ban would “cripple” relief operations.

Rayburn described the move as potentially causing a “catastrophic collapse of humanitarian services,” emphasizing that Israeli authorities had been fully briefed on the potential consequences.

Under the 20-point ceasefire agreement of October, Israel is obliged to allow “full aid” into Gaza. Yet progress toward a lasting peace has stalled, with Israel refusing to withdraw from 53% of the territory it controls until Hamas disarms and returns hostages, demands Hamas has not met.

Recent storms have destroyed shelters for roughly 500,000 people, while food and clean water remain scarce. Aid organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the Norwegian Refugee Council, said it would be impossible to meet Israel’s new requirements without compromising safety and operational integrity.

Volker Türk, UN human rights chief, called the decision “outrageous,” warning it worsens an already intolerable situation. The EU also criticized the NGO registration law, saying it “cannot be implemented in its current form.”

While Israel insists the law is necessary, humanitarian officials warn that without urgent intervention, Gaza faces a deepening humanitarian crisis.

By Vafa Guliyeva