Israel announced on Tuesday that it will suspend the operations of more than two dozen humanitarian organizations working in Gaza beginning Jan. 1, 2026, citing non-compliance with newly introduced oversight rules.
According to Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, the affected organizations failed to meet updated requirements mandating greater transparency around staffing, funding sources, and operational activities. Among those facing suspension is Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, or MSF), one of the largest medical aid providers in Gaza.
The ministry alleged that MSF did not adequately clarify the roles of certain staff members whom Israel has accused of having links to Hamas and other militant groups. It said approximately 25 organizations — representing about 15 per cent of NGOs operating in Gaza — did not have their permits renewed under the new framework.
International humanitarian groups have strongly criticized Israel’s vetting rules, calling them arbitrary and warning that they could put aid workers at risk. Doctors Without Borders did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. In 2024, Israel previously accused some MSF staff of involvement in military activities, allegations the organization said it took seriously while stressing it would never knowingly employ individuals engaged in armed conflict.
The move comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and international aid agencies over the volume of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. Israel maintains it is meeting aid commitments outlined in the most recent ceasefire agreement in the two-year-long war, which came into effect on Oct. 10.
Humanitarian organizations, however, dispute Israel’s figures and say aid deliveries remain far below what is needed to address the severe humanitarian crisis facing Gaza’s more than two million residents.
