<h1> For over a year and a half, humanitarian organizations have continued their operations despite unprecedented restrictions. </h1>
In 2024, they enabled millions of people to access essential services such as food, water, mobile clinics, legal assistance, and education. These new registration rules now risk compromising these operations. They do not reflect standard policy but indicate a significant intensification of restrictions on humanitarian and civic space, potentially setting a dangerous precedent.
Under the new conditions, international NGOs already registered in Israel could be deregistered, while new applications may be rejected based on arbitrary and political allegations, such as the “delegitimization of Israel” or expressing support for holding Israel accountable for violations of international law. Other rejection criteria include public support for a boycott of Israel over the past seven years (by staff, a partner, a board member, or a founder) or failure to comply with exhaustive reporting requirements for humanitarian actions. Since advocating for humanitarian aid and human rights is considered a threat to the state, Israeli authorities can exclude organizations that merely report on the ground reality. As a result, INGOs are forced to choose between delivering aid and defending the rights of those affected by the conflict.
Furthermore, INGOs must submit to Israeli authorities complete lists of their staff as well as other sensitive information about employees and their families when applying for registration. This raises serious protection concerns, particularly in a context where humanitarian workers and healthcare professionals are frequently targeted, arrested, or directly attacked.
<h1> These new rules are part of a broader crackdown on humanitarian and civic space. </h1>
This is reflected in increased surveillance, attacks, and a series of actions aimed at blocking humanitarian aid, threatening staff safety, and undermining the fundamental principles of humanitarian action. These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader context marked by:
- The blocking or disruption of humanitarian aid through arbitrary bureaucratic restrictions, logistical obstacles, and a total siege, depriving Palestinians of essential supplies for survival.
- The deaths of over 400 humanitarian workers in Gaza, along with many injured and detained, and repeated attacks on clearly identified and reported humanitarian premises, infrastructure, and convoys.
- The adoption of legislation aimed at reducing the operations of UNRWA, the largest provider of essential services for Palestinians.
- For Israeli NGOs, new legislation proposes imposing a tax of up to 80% on funding from foreign governments while barring them from accessing the Israeli judicial system. This measure would apply even when they partner with international organizations responsible for delivering humanitarian aid and protecting communities exposed to forced displacement, demolitions, or settler violence.
- The suspension of work visas for international staff and the revocation of permits allowing Palestinians residing in the West Bank to access Jerusalem, causing serious disruptions to operations.
- And now, the registration of INGOs is subject to political and ideological alignment requirements, undermining the neutrality, impartiality, and independence of humanitarian actors.
In accordance with international humanitarian law, occupying powers are required to facilitate impartial humanitarian assistance and ensure the well-being of the protected population. Any attempt to instrumentalize humanitarian aid for political purposes or to sanction organizations that uphold their mandate risks violating this framework. In 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israeli authorities to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through three legally binding provisional measures. However, these new decisions reinforce and institutionalize existing obstacles to humanitarian aid.
We call on states, donors, and the international community to:
- Use all possible means to protect humanitarian operations from measures that compromise neutrality, independence, and access—including requirements for staff lists, political control, and vague revocation criteria.
- Take concrete political and diplomatic actions, beyond mere statements of concern, to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and prevent the disruption of principled aid delivery.
- Support INGOs and Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations through legal assistance, diplomatic backing, and flexible funding to mitigate legal, financial, and reputational risks. Donors are obligated to protect principled humanitarian and human rights advocacy activities.
The 55 signatory organizations emphasize that participating in the registration process to preserve essential humanitarian operations must not be interpreted as an endorsement of these measures.
These 55 organizations remain committed to providing aid, services, and humanitarian operations, as well as development and peacebuilding activities, in an impartial, independent, and needs-based manner, in accordance with international law and the humanitarian principles derived from it. INGOs are prepared to engage in good-faith dialogue with Israeli authorities regarding administrative procedures but cannot accept measures that penalize principled humanitarian action or expose their staff to reprisals. Such measures not only undermine aid in the occupied Palestinian territory but also set a dangerous precedent for humanitarian operations worldwide.