Gaza/West Bank – Hamas has strongly condemned reported moves by the Israeli government to revoke the operating licenses of dozens of international aid organizations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The organization described the potential action as a “dangerous escalation” and a “blatant disregard for the international community and the humanitarian aid system.”
In a statement released Wednesday, Hamas asserted that this action is part of a broader effort to “politicize aid work and turn it into a tool of extortion against the Palestinian people,” who are already suffering from dire humanitarian conditions due to ongoing military operations and a years-long blockade, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas urged the international community, the United Nations, and all international human rights and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to condemn what it called “this criminal behavior.” They further called for pressure on the Israeli government to reverse its policy and prevent it from using humanitarian aid as a weapon to starve the Palestinian people and prolong their suffering.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has also warned of severe consequences if it is prevented from continuing its operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. MSF stated that preventing their work would seriously impact the health system, noting that they support approximately 20% of hospital beds in Gaza and assist in the delivery of one in three babies in the region. The organization also expressed concern about Israel’s requirement to submit lists of Palestinian employees for what it termed a “security check.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described Israel’s decision to suspend the activities of dozens of aid organizations in Gaza as “unconscionable,” warning that it would exacerbate the already deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip. Türk called on influential states to urgently pressure Israel to allow unimpeded access for aid to Gaza.
Reports indicate that the Israeli government has stated that 37 international non-governmental organizations face the risk of having their humanitarian activities in Gaza banned if they fail to provide the names of their Palestinian employees. Doctors Without Borders is reportedly among the organizations potentially affected by the decision.
