Israel’s High Court has temporarily blocked a ban on 37 international aid groups in Gaza and the West Bank, pausing new licensing rules that NGOs warn could cause “irreparable harm.”
WEBDESK – MediaBites News
Israel’s High Court has temporarily blocked a government move that would have forced 37 international aid organisations to stop operating in the occupied Palestinian territories unless they complied with strict new registration requirements.
The injunction, issued ahead of a 1 March deadline, came after 17 NGOs jointly petitioned the court, arguing that Israel, as an occupying power, has obligations under international humanitarian law to allow humanitarian assistance. Judge Dafna Barak-Erez said there was “a real legal dispute” requiring further examination.
The affected organisations include Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Oxfam, Save the Children, ActionAid, and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). In December, Israel informed them that their registrations had expired and that they must meet new transparency conditions — including providing detailed information about staff, funding sources, and operational structures — or cease operations.
Aid groups warn the measures could cut off critical support to more than two million people in Gaza, where most residents rely on humanitarian assistance for food, water, and medical care. In the West Bank, NGOs support communities displaced by settlement expansion and settler violence.
Israel says the rules are aimed at preventing infiltration by Palestinian armed groups following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks that triggered the Gaza war. It has accused some organisations of links to militant groups — allegations the NGOs strongly deny.
Humanitarian groups argue that sharing staff details could endanger workers and undermine neutrality. Hundreds of aid workers have been killed during the conflict.
The court’s temporary halt offers short-term relief, but uncertainty remains over how and when a final ruling will reshape humanitarian operations in the region.
