Israel on Sunday began revoking the operating licenses of 37 international organizations delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, saying they failed to meet requirements under new registration rules, according to the Israeli broadcasting authority KAN. The broadcaster said the Israeli government started this week sending official notices to dozens of international organizations, informing them their licenses would be canceled starting January 2026 and ordering them to end their activities by March of the same year. "Following the entry into force of the registration mechanism for international organizations in Gaza, the process of barring 37 international organizations from operating has begun," KAN reported. Israel claims the organizations collectively transferred less than 1% of total humanitarian aid during the war and said the scope of aid would not be affected by the decision, according to the broadcaster. KAN said security investigations alleged the involvement of employees from Doctors Without Borders in "terrorist activities," claiming the organization failed in two cases to fully disclose information about the identities and roles of its staff. However, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Israel's decision in November to revoke the licenses of international relief organizations was driven by political considerations. Israel has previously taken similar steps against the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. In 2024, the Knesset passed legislation banning the agency's activities in Israel, citing allegations that some UNRWA employees were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, events, claims the agency has denied. The United Nations has said UNRWA adheres to strict neutrality standards. Israeli authorities later escalated measures against the agency by passing a law to cut water and electricity supplies to UNRWA facilities. — Agencies
