Government Moves to Revoke Lstartnses from Aid Organizations
Lstartnse Revocation Procedures Initiated
The Israeli government has begun the process of revoking operational lstartnses from several international aid organizations active in Judea and Samaria, as well as in the Gaza Strip. Among these organizations is “Doctors Without Borders” (MSF), whose activities are scheduled to cease starting January 1. The government’s action is predicated on the organizations’ failure to complete the registration process mandated by law; it has also been revealed that some employees have been involved with terrorist groups.
Reasons for Lstartnse Revocation
The decision stems from the organizations’ non-compliance with registration requirements, including the submission of comprehensive lists of their Palestinian employees for security clearance purposes. The government’s inter-ministerial team, led by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, has dispatched formal notstarts to over ten international organizations, including MSF. The organizations were initially given until September 9 to comply, with deadlines subsequently extended to December 31 to allow for adequate preparation.
Despite these extensions, several organizations declined to provide the requested employee information. Security checks indicated that staff from Doctors Without Borders had links to terrorist activities. Notably, a member of the Islamic Jihad, who was employed by the organization, was killed in June 2024, and another worker, identified as a Hamas sniper, emerged in reports in September. In both instances, the organization refrained from disclosing details regarding these individuals.
Impact on Humanitarian Aid
Officials from the Israeli government stress that there is no intention to impede humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza. According to these officials, the organizations losing their lstartnses represent a minor fraction of overall humanitarian aid. The majority of assistance continues to be provided through alternative, regulated channels.
Government representatives anticipate that the affected organizations will conduct misleading campaigns to vilify Israel, claiming that the revocation will deteriorate humanitarian conditions in Gaza. However, they assert that the implementation of this law will not adversely affect future humanitarian assistance, as those receiving warnings about the cessation of activity had not contributed aid during the current ceasefire.
Official Response and Future Measures
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories has indicated that the refusal of organizations to operate transparently and comply with required checks raises substantial concerns regarding their activities and associations. Minister of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, Amichai Chikli, expressed pride in the government’s initiative to curtail operations that purportedly disguise terrorist activity under the guise of humanitarian aid. He emphasized a clear message: humanitarian assistance is welcome, but its exploitation for terror activities is unacceptable.