International medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has urged Israel to allow it to continue operating in Gaza, after it announced a ban on more than 37 NGOs from working in the strip under draconian new registration rules.
The regulations also disqualify organisations that have called for boycotts against Israel, denied the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 that led to the war, or expressed support for any of the international court cases against Israeli soldiers or leaders.
As part of the new process, registrants must submit a list of their employees, including Palestinians working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, to Israel's Ministry of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism. This contravenes with European privacy laws.
Many NGOs have chosen not to send this list for security purposes.
On Wednesday, MSF emergency co-ordinator Claire San Filippo said the group is still waiting for the renewal of its registration under Israel's new requirements “including staff lists”.
Earlier this week, Israel accused MSF of having two employees who were members of Palestinian militant groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas. MSF has denied the claims.
“MSF takes such accusations extremely seriously and would never knowingly employ anyone engaged in military activity. Unsubstantiated public claims put humanitarian staff at risk and undermine life-saving medical work,” it said.
Gaza's healthcare system has been destroyed and by the time a ceasefire was reached in October, it had no functioning hospitals despite more than 171,000 injuries.
Aid has also not entered the strip in accordance to the ceasefire agreement which stipulates a mini
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