New registration rules in Israel for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are raising serious concerns about their potential impact on aid work in Gaza and the West Bank. Relief workers warn that the measures could have a catastrophic effect on humanitarian operations, particularly as Gaza continues to face a severe crisis, with ongoing shortages of running water and electricity even after the US-brokered October ceasefire following the conflict sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Under the new framework, NGOs must register by December 31, with Israel stating that the rules aim to prevent “hostile actors or supporters of terrorism” from operating in the Palestinian territories while not impeding legitimate aid. As of November 2025, around 100 registration requests had been submitted, of which only 14 were rejected. Israel indicated that organisations are denied registration if involved in terrorism, antisemitism, delegitimisation of Israel, Holocaust denial, or denial of the October 7 attacks.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with aid delivery falling far short of needs. Although the October 10 ceasefire agreement called for 600 trucks of aid per day, only 100 to 300 trucks are reportedly entering. Key NGOs, including Save the Children and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), have been barred under the new rules, forcing them to withdraw international staff from Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, and preventing them from sending supplies across the border. Despite this, local staff and partners in Gaza continue providing essential services such as psychosocial support and education for children.
The UN and humanitarian forums have expressed alarm at the new regulations, urging Israel to remove barriers that could undermine aid delivery. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) warned that while some NGOs have managed to register, they represent only a fraction of the humanitarian response required, highlighting the risk of a significant collapse in the ability to meet basic and immediate needs in Gaza.
