Foreign NGOs Say New Israeli Rules Blocking Gaza Aid Deliveries

JERUSALEM: More than 100 international aid organizations have accused Israel of using new legislation to block their efforts to deliver humanitarian supplies into Gaza, according to a joint letter released Thursday.

The groups, including Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said Israeli authorities rejected at least 60 requests in July alone to bring in life-saving goods, citing that the organizations were “not authorized to deliver aid.”

Relations between foreign-backed NGOs and Israel have long been strained, with officials often alleging the groups are biased. Tensions have deepened since Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel in October 2023.

In March, Israel introduced new regulations for foreign NGOs working with Palestinians. The law requires updated registration processes and allows authorities to deny or revoke status for groups deemed to undermine Israel’s democratic character or promote “delegitimization campaigns” against the country.

“Unfortunately, many aid organizations serve as a cover for hostile and sometimes violent activity,” said Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, whose ministry helped draft the new guidelines. He stressed that groups without such connections would be permitted to operate.

Aid groups argue that the rules are leaving civilians in Gaza without critical support. “Our mandate is to save lives, but due to the registration restrictions civilians are being left without the food, medicine, and protection they urgently need,” said Jolien Veldwijk, director of CARE in the Palestinian territories. She noted that CARE has been unable to deliver aid to Gaza since Israel imposed a full blockade in March, despite a partial easing in May.

Israel has accused Hamas of diverting aid in the past. Since May, the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has overseen food distribution centers in the enclave. However, Gaza’s civil defense agency says distribution efforts have been chaotic, with thousands rushing to aid hubs daily, incidents that have at times resulted in people being shot, including by Israeli soldiers.