Gaza Herald –Â 57 international staff members departed Gaza on Thursday after Israel imposed a ban on 37 humanitarian organizations operating in the territory.
The move comes amid tightening restrictions on aid operations, raising concerns over the impact on essential services and humanitarian assistance for civilians.
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) called for the lifting of Israeli restrictions, emphasizing the need to continue life-saving work in partnership with other aid organizations.
The group stressed that easing these limitations is critical to maintaining medical and relief services amid the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Earlier, 17 international aid organizations petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court to halt the ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, warning of potentially catastrophic consequences for civilians already facing dire conditions. The organizations said Israeli authorities notified them on December 30, 2025, that their registrations had expired, giving them 60 days to renew by providing lists of their Palestinian staff. Failure to comply would result in the suspension of operations across the occupied Palestinian territories from March 1.
Among the organizations affected are Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and CARE International, all long-standing providers of aid in the region. The petitioners stated that the ban has already disrupted operations on the ground, blocking the entry of humanitarian supplies and denying visas for foreign staff, putting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians at risk.
The organizations are seeking an urgent court injunction to suspend the closures until a full judicial review is completed, highlighting that Israel’s actions violate international humanitarian law, including the obligation to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to populations under occupation.
