‘As if the Israeli genocide in Gaza had not already inflicted unbearable suffering, the Netanyahu government is now actively obstructing humanitarian organisations that were providing essential support to Palestinians in the occupied territories. This constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law. We call on the European Commission to publicly and unequivocally condemn Israel’s measures, and to enforce the human rights and democratic clauses of the EU-Israel Association Agreement without which that agreement should be suspended. We expect the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council to urgently discuss this matter, including the clear contradiction with the Association Agreement’s stipulations.’

Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said:

'The need for shelter, food and healthcare in the Occupied Palestinian Territories remains extreme. The Israeli demands are a cynical and calculated attempt to prevent humanitarian organisations from providing services in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Facilitating humanitarian aid is not a decision to be taken on political grounds. It is an obligation under international law. Unless changes are made, the cost to Palestinians will be unthinkable.'

On 30 December, the Israeli authorities notified 37 international NGOs that their registrations would expire on 31 December 2025, triggering a 60-day countdown to the forced suspension of their activities. According to Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, the organisations allegedly failed to meet new “security and transparency standards”, particularly the requirement to provide full and verifiable information about their Palestinian staff. The humanitarian organisations warn that these demands undermine humanitarian neutrality, violate operational independence, and place staff at serious risk.

Among the 37 NGOs affected are several country chapters of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Médecins du Monde, Handicap International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, and Oxfam. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk described the decision as “outrageous”, underscoring the severity of Israel’s attack on humanitarian action itself.

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