Image from The Jordan Times (AFP photo)
The undersigned 55 organisations operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) call for urgent action from the international community against new Israeli registration rules for international NGOs. Based on vague, broad, politicised, and open-ended criteria, these rules appear designed to assert control over independent humanitarian, development and peacebuilding operations, silence advocacy grounded in international humanitarian and human rights law, and further entrench Israeli control and de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory.
For over a year and a half, humanitarian organisations have continued operating despite unprecedented constraints. In 2024, they reached millions of people across the oPt with essential services – from food and water to mobile clinics, legal aid, and education. The new registration rules now threaten to shut this work down. These measures go beyond routine policy. They mark a serious escalation in restrictions on humanitarian and civic space and risk setting a dangerous precedent.
Under the new provisions, INGOs already registered in Israel may face de-registration, while new applicants risk rejection based on arbitrary, politicised allegations, such as “delegitimising Israel” or expressing support for accountability for Israeli violations of international law. Other disqualifiers include public support for a boycott of Israel within the past seven years (by staff, a partner, board member, or founder) or failure to meet exhaustive reporting requirements.
By framing humanitarian and human rights advocacy as a threat to the state, Israeli authorities can shut out organisations merely for speaking out about conditions they witness on the ground, forcing INGOs to choose between delivering aid and promoting respect for the protections owed to affected people.
INGOs are further required to submit complete staff lists and other sensitive information about staff and their families to Israel when applying for registration. In a context where humanitarian and healthcare workers are routinely subject to harassment, detention, and direct attacks, this raises serious protection concerns.
These new rules are part of a broader, long-term crackdown on humanitarian and civic space, marked by heightened surveillance and attacks, and a series of actions that restrict humanitarian access, compromise staff safety, and undermine core principles of humanitarian action. They are not isolated but part of a wider pattern that includes:
Under international humanitarian law, occupying powers are obligated to facilitate impartial humanitarian assistance and ensure the welfare of the protected population. Any attempt to condition humanitarian access on political alignment or penalise organisations for fulfilling their mandate risks breaching this framework. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to allow unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in three legally binding provisional measures orders in 2024. Yet, these new rules expand and institutionalise existing barriers to aid.
We call on States, donors, and the international community to:
Donors must defend principled humanitarian and human rights work. The undersigned 55 organisations stress that engagement with the registration process to preserve critical humanitarian operations should not be misinterpreted as endorsement of these measures.
These 55 organisations remain committed to the delivery of humanitarian aid, along with development and peacebuilding services and activities that are independent, impartial, and based on need, in full accordance with international law and the humanitarian principles derived from it. INGOs stand ready to engage with Israeli authorities in good faith on administrative processes but cannot accept measures that penalise principled humanitarian work or expose staff to retaliation. These measures not only undermine assistance in the oPt but also set a dangerous precedent for humanitarian operations globally.
Signatories
Act Church of Sweden
ActionAid
Alianza / ActionAid Spain (ApS/AAS)
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Anera
Asamblea de Cooperación Por la Paz (ACPP)
Asociación Paz con Dignidad
CARE International
CESVI
Children Not Numbers
Christian Aid
CIDSE – International family of Catholic social justice organisations
Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (CISS)
COSPE
DanChurchAid (DCA)
Danish House in Palestine
Diakonia
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
forumZFD
Global Communities
HEKS/EPER
Humanity First UK
Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
IM Swedish Development Partner
International Media Support (IMS)
Islamic Relief Worldwide
Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
KURVE Wustrow
MedGlobal
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
Médecins du Monde (MdM) France
Médecins du Monde (MdM) Spain
Médecins du Monde (MdM) Switzerland
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
medico international
Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
Movement for Peace (MPDL)
Muslim Aid
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
Oxfam
Pax Christi International
Plan International
Polish Medical Mission Association (PMM)
Première Urgence Internationale (PUI)
Relief International (RI)
Save the Children International (SCI)
Secours Islamique France (SIF)
Terre des Hommes (Tdh) Italia
Terre des Hommes (Tdh) Lausanne
The Center for Mind-Body Medicine
War Child
Weltfriedensdienst e.V. (world peace service)
West Bank Protection Consortium (WBPC)
Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.
One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.
With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.
Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.
You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969
By Kathryn Once again, the unrepentant, dangerously undemocratic, unspeakably callous, misogynistic and totally deluded RWNJs…
Early in February 2024, I wrote an article entitled "Why the Conservatives cannot win the…
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) congratulates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and…
Snarky Article: The Nicola Charles Chronicles Meet Nicola Charles: a former Neighbours star turned full-time…
The dust had barely settled on the Australian federal election on May 3 before the…
Article (Snark Edition): Let’s talk about Victoria’s transport “planning” – a term used very loosely…
View Comments
I saw an Israeli person on TV saying that it was Hamas which was preventing food and essential medical and humanitarian produce getting to those pitiful , remaining Gazans. Hard to believe when we see those starving people with makeshift cans hoping for a spoonful or two to last a day - for a family.
What utter lies. Netanyahu's government is responsible for genocide and is quite open about its intentions to kill and clear out all and every Palestinian in Gaza and the West Bank in the belief - 'all' that land belongs to Zion. It is all so comparable to the demonising and attempted extermination of people of Jewish faith with grotesque consequences. Unfortunately, the Trump USA still supports murder and starvation of innocents.
The world's governments are complicit in this extermination and watch on. Some supply all the bombs and support which have wiped out swathes of Gaza . All and every life supporting system has been destroyed, journalists covering the terror - murdered. Israel is a vicious vindictive ambitious State. Would Israel survive on its own without Western support?