Israel is stopping 37 aid groups from operating in Gaza unless they comply with controversial guidelines that critics say would put Palestinian staff in danger.
The guidelines state that aid organisations operating in the realm must provide detailed personal information on all Palestinian members of staff. Israel has claimed that the rules are to forestall terrorist infiltration of aid efforts.
On the opposite side, aid organisations say that tons of of aid employees were killed within the recent conflict and that these regulations will place Palestinian members of staff in even greater danger of being targeted.
While the deadline for aid organisations to comply with Israel’s requirements has passed, full enforcement won’t happen until 1 March 2026, meaning they’ve two months to pack up shop and leave Gaza.
Despite this, some groups have pledged to remain.
A spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in an announcement that its own organisation, Caritas Jerusalem would “proceed its humanitarian and development operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, in accordance with its mandate”.
The statement confirmed that Caritas had not attempted to re-register with the Israeli authorities as a way to comply with the brand new guidelines, and appeared to appeal to older agreements with the country allowing it to operate.
“Caritas Jerusalem is a humanitarian and development organisation operating under the umbrella and governance of the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land,” it said.
“In Israel, Caritas Jerusalem is an Ecclesiastical Legal Person, whose status and mission have been recognised by the State of Israel through the 1993 Fundamental Agreement and the following 1997 Legal Personality Agreement signed between the Holy See and the State of Israel.”
During the conflict Israel was accused of “weaponizing” the flow of aid, while Hamas has been accused of using aid to regulate the local population. Both sides deny the allegations, with Israel claiming restrictions are for security purposes and various reports suggesting that Hamas has not commandeered local aid on a big scale.
Other Christian organisations affected by Israel’s ban include World Vision and DanChurchAid.
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