UN Chief Urges Israel to Lift Ban on Humanitarian NGOs in Gaza.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called on Israel to reverse its ban on humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza, expressing that he was “deeply concerned” about the move.
“International non-governmental organizations are indispensable to life-saving humanitarian work. The suspension risks undermining fragile progress made during the ceasefire,” Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
“This action will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians.”
Details of the Ban
On Thursday, Israel suspended 37 foreign humanitarian organizations from Gaza after they refused to provide lists of their Palestinian employees to government officials.
Among those affected is Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which employs 1,200 staff in the Palestinian territories, mostly in Gaza.
The NGOs have been ordered to cease operations by March 1.
Several organizations criticized the requirements, saying they violate international humanitarian law and endanger their operational independence. Israel, however, claims the regulation is intended to prevent groups it accuses of supporting terrorism from functioning in Palestinian territories.
Reactions and Humanitarian Context
On Thursday, 18 Israel-based left-wing NGOs condemned the ban, stating it violates “core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality.”
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since October 2023, following Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Humanitarian Impact
Over 70,000 people have died in Gaza since the war began, according to local authorities.
Nearly 80% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, leaving infrastructure in ruins.
About 1.5 million residents of Gaza have lost their homes, according to Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network.
The UN chief emphasized that access for humanitarian NGOs is crucial to preventing further suffering and addressing the region’s severe humanitarian crisis.
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