Brussels: A group of foreign ministers, along with the High Representative of the European Union, have demanded Israel not crack down on international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on Palestinian issues.
According to Emirates News Agency, a joint statement issued over the weekend warned against Israel's recent registration system of international humanitarian organisations. The statement highlighted that the new system could force NGO staff to leave Israel by next month, potentially widening the gap of critical aid needed in Gaza and elsewhere in occupied Palestinian territories.
The statement, signed by ministers from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the EU, emphasized that the exclusion of these organisations would send a significant message.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also raised concerns last week, indicating that Israel is requiring NGOs to share sensitive personal information about their Palestinian employees. This requirement could lead to the termination of their humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
"Unless urgent action is taken, humanitarian organisations warn that most international NGO partners could be de-registered by 9th September or sooner, forcing them to withdraw all international staff," OCHA stated. The requirement is part of a series of newly-imposed restrictions on international NGOs. NGOs that are not registered under the new system are already prohibited from sending any supplies to Gaza.
In May, dozens of aid organisations also voiced their opposition to these new rules, expressing concerns about the impact on their ability to provide aid.