Blocked humanitarian aid

At the end of 2024, the Israeli government approved a proposal to introduce a new registration mechanism for international humanitarian organizations working mostly in the Occupied Territories, including Gaza, and “whose primary activities are conducted with Palestinian residents for the purpose of providing assistance to their welfare.” Section 7 of the new procedure contains an open list of grounds for denying or revoking an organization’s humanitarian registration, enabling the disqualification of previously recognized organizations. The disqualification or revocation of employee visas effectively blocks humanitarian operations in the West Bank. Under the new procedure, registration or visas may be denied due to the political stance of the organization or its employees. Some potential causes for refusal include disseminating information deemed to “delegitimize” Israel’s position, denying “the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state,” calling “for a boycott of the State of Israel,” or expressing support for the prosecution of Israelis over war crimes. These steps form part of a broader set of sanctions launched in response to criticism directed at Israeli policies and actions in Gaza and the West Bank by numerous humanitarian organizations.​

Additionally, on January 30, 2025, in the wake of the October 7 attacks, legislation barring UNRWA from operating, providing services, or engaging in any form of activity in Israel, whether directly or indirectly, took effect. The repercussions include the denial of border entry to UNRWA personnel and the closure of the agency’s Israeli bank accounts. These impediments will thwart, or at least restrict the agency’s operations, including in the West Bank.

The aid infrastructure built by UNRWA was meant to be a temporary substitute for autonomous and effective governance on behalf of a population living under occupation and denied self-determination. However, the protracted occupation and the Palestinian Authority’s inability to reasonably meet the needs of the densely populated and impoverished areas under its control have produced complete dependence on the agency’s vast and longstanding humanitarian apparatus. Whatever justification may be given for imposing sanctions on the agency, the primary victims are the Palestinian public.

The blow to humanitarian aid compounds the ongoing damage to the Palestinian economy and to the Palestinian Authority’s ability to offer its residents basic services. All of this directly contravenes the obligation of an occupying power to act for the benefit of the protected population and to uphold their human rights. It is also at odds with Israel’s own security interests.