Jerusalem: The Israeli occupation government has initiated procedures to revoke the operating licenses of several international relief organizations working in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This move aims to curtail the activities of these organizations by March 1, 2026, following the cancellation of their licenses from January 1.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the Knesset has sent official letters to more than 10 international organizations, notifying them of the impending cancellation of their licenses. The decision is partly attributed to some organizations' refusal to comply with a demand to submit full lists of their Palestinian employees. This requirement follows claims from security investigations alleging involvement of staff from Doctors Without Borders in "terrorist activities," although no evidence has been provided to support these claims.
The Israeli occupation's latest actions reflect an attempt to exert full control over humanitarian organizations in the Palestinian territories. This includes implementing a new mechanism that presents a challenging decision for these organizations: choosing between safeguarding their employees and continuing their services for Palestinians.
This development was announced shortly after the Knesset approved a bill to cut electricity and water supplies to the offices of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem. The bill has already come into effect.
It is noteworthy that in 2024, the Israeli occupation took similar measures against UNRWA, banning its activities in occupied territories. The Knesset's decision was based on allegations of some employees' involvement in events that occurred in October 2023.