“Allowing humanitarian aid is not a favour. It is an obligation under international law. Today, more than ever, Palestinians need more services, not less.”
  • Context: Israel threatens to revoke the licenses of 37 international non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians
  • Human rights: Right to humanitarian assistance, rights in times of armed conflict
  • Community impact: The services available to the people in Gaza are far less than what is needed because of the blockades and restrictions, says Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders
  • Rights-holder: People of Gaza
  • Duty-bearer: Israeli government

For Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Israel’s decision to revoke the licenses of the international non-governmental organizations to provide services in Gaza and West Bank of Palestine is a breach of its obligations under the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

IHL’s Rule 55 states that “(t)he parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, which is impartial in character and conducted without any adverse distinction, subject to their right of control.”

The 37 international non-governmental organizations had their licenses suspended on January 1, with their operations to end within 60 days. Israel is compelling them to hand over complete personal details of their organization and staff. This includes documentation of their organization and its operation, and a complete list of all foreign and Palestinian employees, with their passport and identification numbers.

MSF expressed reservations in sharing personal information with the Israeli authorities, given that 15 of their colleagues have been killed by Israeli forces.

“In any context, especially one where medical and humanitarian workers have been intimidated, arbitrarily detained, attacked, and killed in large numbers, demanding staff lists as a condition for access to territory is an outrageous overreach,” MSF said. “It undermines humanitarian independence and neutrality and is made all the more dangerous by the absence of any clarity about how such sensitive data will be used, stored, or shared.”

More than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. These numbers do not include deaths of those under the rubble, in mass graves, and those killed by indirect causes (e.g. lack of adequate medical treatment, disease, malnutrition, complications).

The banning of humanitarian aid was also condemned by the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. They said in a statement that “(w)ithout them, it will be impossible to meet all urgent needs at the scale required.”

Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt also expressed concerns and called for the immediate entry of humanitarian aid in Gaza. “Any attempt to impede their ability to operate is unacceptable,” the foreign ministers of the selected countries said.

The makeshift shelters of the people in Gaza have been destroyed due to the weather conditions as Israel continued to block the entry of supplies like tents, tarpaulins, and temporary housing which could have helped the people withstand the third winter.

“Now the Israeli government seeks to ban what little aid and services do exist,” MSF said. “Allowing humanitarian aid is not a favour. It is an obligation under international law. Today, more than ever, Palestinians need more services, not less.”

Despite the ceasefire, killings in Gaza continue. Its health ministry reported that at least 420 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began on October 10, 2025, mediated by the United States. (DAA)

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