In occupied Palestinian territories, humanitarian aid in crisis amid Israeli restrictions

Humanitarian aid operations in the occupied Palestinian territories face severe disruption as Israel has revoked the accreditations of 37 foreign organizations. This move, effective January 1, 2026, has forced numerous foreign aid workers to relocate, including Filipe Ribeiro, the head of mission for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Jerusalem, who has moved to Amman, Jordan.

According to Ribeiro, negotiations with Israeli authorities proved fruitless, leading to the expulsion of approximately 70 MSF staff members. The core of the dispute lies in new regulations imposed by Israel, which foreign NGOs have largely refused to comply with. A key demand was for these organizations to provide lists of their Palestinian employees for "security" reasons.

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We tried for a long time to negotiate with the Israeli authorities but we hit a wall.

Ribeiro expressed strong opposition to this requirement, stating that handing over such information would "give the identities of Palestinians living in Palestine, not in Israel, to the occupying power which, for two and a half years, has systematically targeted them." He views these new rules as a violation of international humanitarian law and a direct threat to the safety of Palestinian staff.

The situation is particularly dire given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, the United Nations reports that 589 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza, with 397 of them being UN staff and collaborators. The Israeli restrictions further complicate the delivery of essential aid in an already devastated region.

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We would have given the identities of Palestinians living in Palestine, not in Israel, to the occupying power which, for two and a half years, has systematically targeted them.