More than a dozen international humanitarian organizations have filed a petition with Israel’s Supreme Court seeking to block an imminent government ban that would force dozens of aid groups to stop operating in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem.
The petition, submitted by 17 organizations, including some of those directly affected by the proposed ban, calls for an urgent interim injunction to suspend enforcement of the ban while the court reviews the case. The legal challenge argues that the Israeli measures are incompatible with the responsibilities of an occupying power under international humanitarian law.
Earlier, Israeli authorities notified dozens of international non-governmental organisations, including prominent groups such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Counciland CARE, that their Israeli registrations had expired and would not be renewed unless they complied with new requirements. The demands reportedly include providing detailed lists of Palestinian staff, information that the groups argue could put local workers at risk and undermine humanitarian neutrality.
Under the new regulations, introduced in 2025, groups that fail to meet the criteria face losing their legal status and being barred from operating in Palestinian territories from March 1, 2026. The petitioners say compliance with the registration conditions could expose local employees to retaliation and violate data protection standards, effectively crippling their ability to deliver aid amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian need.
The organizations contend they play a critical role in the humanitarian response, collectively delivering significant portions of food assistance, medical care, and other life-saving services in Gaza and the West Bank. They argue that halting their operations would have “catastrophic” consequences for civilians already suffering from shortages of essential supplies and healthcare.
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the military body responsible for civilian affairs in the occupied territories, has defended the registration requirements as legal and necessary, saying many organizations have complied and that those facing removal represent a small portion of aid activity. A response to the petition by the Israeli government is expected later this week.
The case has drawn wider international attention, with human rights groups and foreign governments warning that restricting humanitarian access could worsen the crisis in Palestinian territories.