Thirty-seven international humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory have been ordered by Israeli authorities to cease operations by the end of February 2026 under revised registration rules. In response, these organizations have jointly petitioned the Israeli High Court, seeking to suspend the closures to prevent immediate and irreparable harm to civilians who rely on their services. The affected organizations were notified in December 2025 that their Israeli registrations would expire and that they would have 60 days to wind down activities in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Compliance with the full registration process is legally and ethically impossible for these organizations.
The enforcement of closures is expected to begin as early as 28 February 2026, threatening not only individual organizations but the wider humanitarian system. In Gaza, civilians remain dependent on aid amid restrictions on supplies and renewed strikes, while in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, military incursions, demolitions, displacement, and settler violence continue to drive rising humanitarian needs. Palestinian Authority registration provides the lawful basis for NGOs to operate, and under international humanitarian law, an occupying power is obliged to facilitate relief for civilians. Conditioning aid on sweeping administrative demands and the transfer of personal staff data risks disrupting life-saving services and violates both privacy standards and humanitarian principles.
The requirement to disclose personal details exposes national staff to security and legal risks, particularly for European organizations, which could face serious liabilities under EU data protection laws. Humanitarian organizations have proposed alternatives, such as independent sanctions screening and donor-audited vetting, to balance compliance with staff protection, but no substantive response has been received. Enforcement measures are already in practice, including blocked supplies and denial of visas for foreign staff.
International NGOs, alongside UN agencies and Palestinian partners, provide more than half of all food assistance in Gaza, 60% of field hospital operations, nearly three-quarters of shelter and non-food item activities, all inpatient treatment for severely malnourished children, 30% of emergency education services, and over half of explosive hazard clearance. The petition requests an urgent interim injunction to suspend the expiry of registrations and prevent enforcement until judicial review, arguing that the administrative measures are incompatible with obligations under international humanitarian law.
The legal arguments emphasize that the Israeli Inter-Ministerial Team acted beyond its authority, imposed disproportionate and unsafe data-sharing requirements, and violated international obligations. Transferring employee personal data breaches EU regulations and places staff at risk, while ordering the cessation of operations exceeds Israel’s mandate under the Oslo Accords, which grants the Palestinian Authority oversight of NGO registration. Furthermore, arbitrary suspensions based on vague security considerations violate humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which obligates occupying powers to ensure the supply of food, medical services, and relief for civilians.
The petitioners assert that halting humanitarian activities will result in immediate and irreversible harm to the civilian population, and that governments must act to prevent implementation of the measures. They argue that continuing operations without interference does not harm administrative authorities but is crucial to preserving life, health, and essential services in highly vulnerable communities across Gaza and the West Bank.
