Israel ordered 37 aid groups -- including Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam -- to stop operating in Gaza after they refused to hand over Palestinian staff lists
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Under Government Resolution No. 2542, Israel required international NGOs working in Gaza and the West Bank to register with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and submit staff lists. On December 30, 2025, 37 NGOs, including Medecins Sans Frontieres, Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE, were told their registrations had expired and that they had 60 days (to March 1, 2026) to comply or cease operations. The groups refused to hand over Palestinian staff data, citing humanitarian neutrality and data-protection obligations. The High Court issued a temporary injunction on February 27, 2026, but on about May 19, 2026 rejected the NGOs' petitions, allowing the state to require employee identification as a condition of registration, and gave the groups 30 days to comply or cease operations (AFP, May 20, 2026). Israeli officials say the groups failed to meet registration requirements.
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- Norwegian Refugee Council / 53 international NGOs joint statement — Norwegian Refugee Council / 53 international NGOs joint statementDocument
37 INGOs received deregistration notices on December 30, 2025
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Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.
Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.
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