Israel wants to ban 27 humanitarian NGOs from accessing Gaza

The Israeli authorities have announced that 37 international humanitarian organisations will no longer be able to operate in the Gaza Strip from tomorrow if they do not submit a list of the names of their Palestinian employees. Among the NGOs affected are Médecins Sans Frontières, Médecins du Monde, Handicap International and Care. The organisations concerned have received official notice that their licences will be revoked as of 1 January, with the requirement to cease all activities by 1 March.

The Israeli government claims that this measure is intended to prevent hostile actors or supporters of terrorism from entering Palestinian territory. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, some NGOs are aware that members of their staff are involved in terrorist activities or have links to Hamas. The authorities assure that no organisation will be given special treatment and that the procedure will apply to all humanitarian actors concerned.

The majority of NGOs refuse to comply with this request. They believe that providing lists of the names of their Palestinian employees poses a major risk to their security and raises serious legal questions. Several organisations point out that they have been working in Gaza for many years with mandatory accreditation from the Israeli authorities and that they already apply strict internal procedures to prevent any misuse of humanitarian aid.

Médecins Sans Frontières has been specifically targeted by the Israeli authorities, who accuse it of employing two people linked to Palestinian armed groups. The NGO has denied these accusations and reaffirmed that it complies with the laws in force and implements rigorous control mechanisms. It explains that it has not provided the requested list in the absence of sufficient guarantees and clarifications on how the information would be used.

The organisations concerned still have until midnight to submit the required lists and avoid being banned from entering the territory. If they fail to do so, they will lose their licences on Thursday. This prospect is of great concern to humanitarian actors, as the situation in Gaza continues to be deemed catastrophic by the United Nations and many governments.

The European Union has warned that such a ban would prevent the delivery of vital aid to the civilian population. The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid has stated that the Israeli law on the registration of NGOs cannot be applied in its current form and has called for the removal of all obstacles to humanitarian access.

On the ground, NGOs point out that the amount of aid entering Gaza remains far below what is needed. The ceasefire agreement provides for the entry of 600 lorries per day, but only 100 to 300 transport humanitarian aid daily, according to the organisations and the United Nations. The Israeli authorities, for their part, cite higher figures.

The director of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has denounced this as a dangerous precedent and a violation of international humanitarian law. In the Palestinian enclave, hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living in precarious conditions, in tents, exposed to the elements and the cold. The possible exclusion of international NGOs raises fears of a rapid worsening of the humanitarian crisis. Le Monde

AD

The AI economy is booming, and smart entrepreneurs are already profiting. Subscribe to Mindstream and get instant access to 200+ proven strategies to monetize AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more. From content creation to automation services, discover actionable ways to build your AI-powered income. No coding required, just practical strategies that work.

Subscribe to Get Your Free Guide

To support us and read without ads, join Athera + (less than 0,17€ a day).

IN SHORT
🇵🇸 Palestine • The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic, warn ten countries, including France and the United Kingdom. Foreign ministers cite severe food insecurity affecting the majority of the population, with 1.3 million people still in need of shelter and more than half of health facilities operating at partial capacity. They call on Israel to guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access.

🇮🇷 Iran • Protests against the regime are growing for the fourth consecutive day, starting with a strike by merchants in Tehran's bazaar and now spreading to major cities in 18 of the 31 provinces. Protesters are denouncing inflation of 52% in December, rising to 200% for basic necessities, linked to the fall in the currency following the return of international sanctions. The protests go beyond economic demands, with calls for the regime to fall. The first death has been reported in Fasa, while security forces are stepping up their crackdown.

🇧🇬 Bulgaria • Bulgaria joins the eurozone tomorrow, becoming the 21st member state to do so, despite an acute political crisis. The coalition government resigned in mid-December after massive protests against the budget and corruption, leaving the country without a stable executive. The population remains divided, with persistent fears about inflation and mistrust fuelled by misinformation. The authorities have imposed price controls and launched an information campaign. Sofia nevertheless hopes to attract more investment and strengthen its European ties, while distancing itself from Russian influence.

🇨🇳 China • The Chinese government has announced a modest growth support plan for 2026, with a limited focus on domestic consumption. The National Development and Reform Commission is planning 295 billion renminbi for public and strategic investment, as well as 62.5 billion renminbi in consumer subsidies. Subsidies for electric vehicles and electronic devices are being extended, and tax breaks on housing are being maintained. Beijing is counting on growth of around 5%, despite a cautious and targeted approach.

🇹🇼 Taiwan • Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC announces the launch of mass production of new-generation 2-nanometre chips. These high-performance chips can integrate up to 50 billion components, with major gains in computing power and energy efficiency, particularly for data centres and artificial intelligence. Production has begun at the Fab 22 plant in Kaohsiung.

🇲🇱 Mali – 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso • Mali and Burkina Faso have announced an entry ban on American nationals. The authorities are invoking the principle of reciprocity, following Washington's decision to ban their citizens from American territory as of 1 January. The measures take effect immediately. Niger took a similar decision the previous week. All three countries are ruled by military juntas that came to power in recent coups. Relations with the United States have largely been severed in favour of strengthened partnerships with Russia, China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

🇬🇳 Guinea • Junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya won the presidential election in the first round with 86.72% of the vote, according to provisional results announced by the General Directorate of Elections. Voter turnout reached 80.95%. The election took place without any major opposition candidates, as several parties called for a boycott. Four candidates conceded defeat. The African Union deemed the vote credible and mentioned the possible lifting of sanctions, while calling for action to combat kidnappings and disappearances.

AD

Investing isn’t about chasing headlines — it’s about clarity. In a world of hype and hot takes, The Daily Upside delivers real value: sharp, trustworthy insights on markets, business, and the economy, written by former bankers and seasoned financial journalists.

That’s why over 1 million investors — from Wall Street pros to Main Street portfolio managers — start their day with The Daily Upside.

Invest better. Read The Daily Upside.

Subscribe free today.

Athera +, you can terminate it anytime and it’s without ads !