The United Nations and more than 200 local and international aid organizations warned on Wednesday that humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories especially Gaza are at risk of collapse unless Israel removes what they describe as severe and politicized restrictions on aid groups.
In a joint statement, the UN and aid agencies said dozens of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) face de-registration by December 31 under a new Israeli registration system introduced in March. De-registration would force organizations to shut down operations within 60 days, potentially crippling essential services across Gaza.
“The deregistration of INGOs in Gaza will have a catastrophic impact on access to essential and basic services,” the statement said.
According to the agencies, international aid groups operate or support most field hospitals, primary healthcare centers, emergency shelters, water and sanitation systems, nutrition programs for children suffering acute malnutrition, and critical mine-action activities.
While some aid groups have successfully registered under the new system, the statement described the process as “vague, arbitrary, and highly politicised.” Aid agencies said re-registration delays and other restrictions have left millions of dollars’ worth of supplies including food, medical equipment, hygiene kits, and shelter materials stuck outside Gaza and unable to reach civilians.
Israel’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The warning comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began on October 10 as part of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan. The truce led to an increase in aid deliveries to Gaza, where a global hunger monitoring body reported in August that famine had taken hold.
However, Hamas has accused Israel of allowing fewer aid trucks into Gaza than agreed under the ceasefire. Aid agencies say current aid levels fall far short of what is needed and allege that Israel continues to block many essential items. Israel denies the accusations, insisting it is meeting its obligations under the truce.
“The UN will not be able to compensate for the collapse of INGOs’ operations if they are de-registered,” the statement said, warning that humanitarian work cannot be replaced by alternative actors operating outside established humanitarian principles.
The agencies stressed that humanitarian access must remain unconditional. “Humanitarian access is not optional, conditional or political,” the statement said. “Lifesaving assistance must be allowed to reach Palestinians without further delay.”
