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By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies | January 2, 2026
JERUSALEM — The Israeli government announced on Tuesday that 37 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including major international aid groups Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Oxfam, will have their licenses to operate in the Palestinian territories revoked. The decision comes after the organizations reportedly failed to meet new, stringent legal requirements mandated by Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.
Under the new regulations, which took effect on January 1, 2026, the affected NGOs have a 60-day window, until March 1, to cease all operations and shutter their offices in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Strict New Registration Requirements
The Israeli authorities had previously demanded that all NGOs operating in the region submit detailed documentation, including:
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Personnel Lists: A complete registry of all employees.
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Organizational Structure: Comprehensive data on funding and operations.
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Security Vetting: Provisions allowing Israel to deny licenses based on suspicions of collaboration with designated terrorist groups, such as Hamas.
Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli stated that the message is “clear”, while humanitarian assistance is welcome, the exploitation of aid mechanisms for “terrorist purposes is unacceptable.”
“Devastating” Consequences for Healthcare
International aid groups and foreign governments have warned that the expulsion of these organizations will create a catastrophic void in essential services. MSF, which claims it has not yet received official communication of the ban, warned of “devastating” impacts on the Palestinian population.
According to data provided by MSF and a coalition of ten donor nations:
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Hospital Capacity: MSF manages approximately 20% of the hospital beds in the Gaza Strip.
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Maternal Health: The organization assists in one out of every three births in the territory.
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Primary Care: It is estimated that one in three health centers in the enclave will be forced to close if these operations are interrupted.
Israel: “Aid Volume Will Not Be Affected”
Conversely, COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing civilian activities in the territories, argued that the move would not significantly impact the volume of aid entering Gaza. COGAT officials stated that the 37 NGOs targeted contributed only 1% of the total aid volume in recent months and had not moved supplies during the current ceasefire that began on October 10.
The military authority accused Hamas of operating “under the cover” of certain aid organizations and specifically cited MSF’s refusal to provide staff lists as a primary reason for the suspension.
International Backlash
A coalition of ten nations, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan, issued a joint appeal urging Israel to reconsider. They argued that NGOs must be allowed to operate in a “sustained and predictable” manner rather than being hampered by “restrictive new demands.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) echoed these concerns, calling the NGOs an “essential part of the vital humanitarian operation.”
| Key Date | Event / Deadline |
| Sept 9, 2025 | Original deadline for registration compliance. |
| Oct 10, 2025 | The current ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip. |
| Jan 1, 2026 | Official revocation of licenses for non-compliant NGOs. |
| March 1, 2026 | Final deadline for NGOs to complete the closure of operations. |