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Israel Confirms Ban on Access for 37 Major Foreign NGOs to Gaza

Published January 2, 2026, 08:15
Israel Confirms Ban on Access for 37 Major Foreign NGOs to Gaza

The Israeli government has confirmed the ban on access to the Gaza Strip for 37 major international humanitarian organizations, citing their failure to submit lists of their employees, as required for security reasons. This measure raises serious concerns about further delays in providing humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza, which has suffered immense destruction from the war and faces acute needs for shelter, healthcare, and food. The decision raises questions about the intention of the Israeli authorities to monitor Palestinian workers of NGOs, which is considered illegal by some organizations. The organizations have two months to withdraw their teams from Gaza. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism stated that the organizations' permits have expired and that new requests will only be considered if the required documents are submitted. The Ministry argues that this requirement aims to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into humanitarian structures. The decision has drawn strong criticism from the international community, with the European Union calling for the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian aid and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing concern about the worsening situation in Gaza. Among the organizations affected are Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Care, World Vision, and Oxfam.