Israel to block 37 aid groups operating in war-battered Gaza from January 1

Israel announced on Tuesday that it will suspend the operations of 37 international humanitarian organisations in the Gaza Strip starting January 1, 2026 , after they failed to comply with new registration and vetting rules. The list includes prominent groups such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), CARE, Oxfam, World Vision, and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs said the suspended organisations account for about 15 per cent of those operating in Gaza and cited security concerns, including the potential exploitation of aid by Hamas. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli stated, “The message is clear: humanitarian assistance is welcome, the exploitation of humanitarian frameworks for terrorism is not.” The military coordination body COGAT added that the affected organisations contribute less than 1 per cent of total aid entering Gaza, and that shipments will continue through more than 20 approved groups and UN agencies.

Doctors Without Borders, which supports roughly 20 per cent of hospital beds and one‑third of births in Gaza, called the decision “ a disaster for Palestinians .” MSF emergency coordinator Pascale Coissard said , “We have treated hundreds of thousands of patients in 2025 and planned to expand support in 2026 if allowed to continue, but losing access would be catastrophic.” An MSF spokesperson added, “MSF would never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity.”

Arab nations and regional organisations, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and the Arab League, have strongly condemned the restrictions, calling for unhindered delivery of aid and warning that obstructing humanitarian assistance violates international law and threatens civilian lives. They also rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and reaffirmed support for UN agencies operating in the territory.

Revoked licences require NGOs to close offices in Israel and East Jerusalem and withdraw international staff by March 1, 2026, though appeals are allowed. Aid groups warn that these measures could collapse essential services including food distribution, healthcare, clean water, and emergency shelter, especially as Gaza’s infrastructure remains devastated after more than two years of conflict. The dispute over aid access follows a broader pattern of Israeli scrutiny of humanitarian organisations during the war, including earlier accusations against UNRWA. Aid groups maintain that the restrictions politicise relief efforts and place Palestinian civilians at heightened risk, raising urgent questions about the future of humanitarian operations in Gaza.