The New Arab Staff
31 December, 2025
The UN has urged Israel against barring 37 international NGOs from operating in Gaza, saying that their work with UN agencies in the enclave is essential for humanitarian services.
"The UN and its partners are urging the Israeli authorities to reconsider today's announcement on international NGOs, which are an essential part of the life-saving humanitarian operation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," the Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a statment issues yesterday.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the move, saying in a statement that "Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem."
"Israel does not want any witnesses to its crimes, nor does it want institutions that support the Palestinian people and prevent Israel from implementing its colonial project aimed at destroying the lives of the Palestinian people," the statement added.
NGOs that are set to stop work in the Gaza from 1 January include Doctors Without Borders, the International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
NRC says Israel did not meet in good faith with aid groups
The Norwegian Refugee Council has said that Israel did not meet in good faith with aid organisations following its announcement that it will bar 37 organisations from carrying out humanitarian work in Gaza.
Shaina Low, the group's communications advisor, told NPR that the NRC worked with diplomats and donors "to try and engage the Israeli authorities to productively find an alternative solution" to Israel's demands, which include vetting staffers, a key demand that was denied by agencies over concerns for staffer safety and complying with EU data protection laws.
"But we were not met with good faith from the Israeli authorities. We were not given any alternatives, and so this is where we are now," Low said.
"It falls in line with what we've seen over the last two-plus years of Israeli authorities continually obstructing the operations of humanitarian aid organisations - impartial, independent, neutral, principled humanitarian agencies," Low added.
EU warns Israel over suspending Gaza NGOs
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
The EU warned Wednesday that Israel's threat to suspend several aid groups in Gaza under new registration rules would block "life-saving" assistance from reaching the population.
"The EU has been clear: the NGO registration law can not be implemented in its current form," EU humanitarian chief Hadja Lahbib posted on X, after Israel said several groups would be barred from 1 January for failing to comply with rules concerning the listing of their Palestinian employees.
"IHL (international humanitarian law) leaves no room for doubt: aid must reach those in need," Lahbib wrote.
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
The EU warned Wednesday that Israel's threat to suspend several aid groups in Gaza under new registration rules would block "life-saving" assistance from reaching the population.
"The EU has been clear: the NGO registration law can not be implemented in its current form," EU humanitarian chief Hadja Lahbib posted on X, after Israel said several groups would be barred from 1 January for failing to comply with rules concerning the listing of their Palestinian employees.
"IHL (international humanitarian law) leaves no room for doubt: aid must reach those in need," Lahbib wrote.
10 countries warn of 'catastrophic' Gaza situation
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
The foreign ministers of 10 nations on Tuesday expressed "serious concerns" about a "renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation" in Gaza, saying the situation was "catastrophic".
"As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping," the ministers of Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland said in a joint statement released by the UK's Foreign Office.
"1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding," the statement added.
The foreign ministers in their statement said they welcomed the progress that had been made to end the bloodshed in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
"However we will not lose focus on the plight of civilians in Gaza," they said, calling on the government of Israel to take a string of "urgent and essential" steps.
UNRWA says Israel still blocking aid entry
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
The UN's agency for Palestine Refugees has accused Israel of continuing to "block UNRWA from directly bringing aid into the Gaza Strip," despite the harsh winter conditions of the enclave, adding "tents and tarpaulins are desperately needed."
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