Israel has barred international charity Save the Children from carrying out humanitarian work in Gaza after enforcing a new framework requiring foreign NGOs to re-register, raising concerns about a potential slowdown in aid delivery.
Under the revised rules, NGOs must complete registration by December 31. Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said the measure aims to prevent organisations linked to “hostile activity” from operating in Palestinian territories.
As of November 2025, the ministry said it had received about 100 registration applications, rejecting 14 on grounds including alleged links to terrorism, antisemitism, delegitimisation of Israel and denial of the October 7 attacks.
Aid groups have expressed concern over what they describe as vague criteria, particularly the requirement to prove they are not involved in the “delegitimisation” of Israel.
Organisations affected by the ban include Save the Children, which supports nearly 120,000 children in Gaza, and the American Friends Service Committee. Both have been given 60 days to withdraw international staff from Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, effectively ending their aid operations.
Humanitarian workers say the restrictions come amid worsening conditions in Gaza, including winter hardship, widespread malnutrition and famine fears, alongside continued air strikes under a fragile, US-brokered ceasefire.
