Israel Revokes Gaza Aid Group Licenses

Israel has revoked the licenses of 37 humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, and Medical Aid for Palestinians, operating in the Gaza Strip. This decision, effective March 1, stems from new registration requirements introduced by Israel, which demand staff details and ban groups for criticizing Israel. Israel claims these rules prevent infiltration by Hamas and other militants, allegations denied by the United Nations and the aid groups. The license revocation formalizes existing restrictions on aid and international staff entry, severely impacting the already strained humanitarian operations and the devastated health sector in the Gaza Strip. Aid groups fear handing over staff information could endanger their personnel, especially after over 500 aid workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip during the war. Médecins Sans Frontières, a major medical supplier, stated the decision would have a catastrophic impact on its work, which includes supporting hospitals and treating trauma cases. The United Nations has warned that the remaining licensed organizations are insufficient to meet the immediate needs of the over 2 million Palestinians facing a severe humanitarian crisis.