The European Union Warns of Undermining Access to Aid for Gaza After Israel Bans 37 Relief Organizations

The European Union warned on Tuesday of undermining access to humanitarian aid in the required volume to the Gaza Strip following the decision by Israeli occupation authorities to ban 37 international relief organizations from operating in the Palestinian territories at the end of December.

The Union emphasized the importance of enabling these organizations to work sustainably in order to deliver aid with the necessary speed, safety, and volume.

This came in a joint statement by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the European Union Kaja Kallas, the Union's Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, and the Union's Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib, regarding the registration procedures for international non-governmental organizations in Palestine.

The statement indicated that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate, noting that Palestinians, with the onset of winter, are exposed to heavy rains and severe cold in the absence of safe shelter.

The statement clarified that children are still unable to attend schools, while health facilities are operating in a semi-paralyzed state due to the acute shortage of staff and equipment.

It emphasized the necessity of delivering humanitarian aid on a broad scale, quickly, safely, and without obstacles, to Gaza, while ensuring its sustainable distribution.

With the onset of winter, Palestinians are left exposed to heavy rains and low temperatures, without safe shelter, and children continue to be absent from schools, while medical facilities are on the verge of halting operations due to lack of basic staff and equipment, according to the joint European statement.

On December 18, the European Council welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 regarding the establishment of a Peace Council and a temporary international stabilization force, in accordance with the comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza.

The European Council then called on all parties to fully implement the resolution, in line with relevant international legal principles, confirming its commitment to contributing to its implementation.

The European Council also emphasized the need to deliver humanitarian aid quickly, safely, and without obstacles, and its sustainable distribution on a broad scale inside and outside Gaza, and accordingly, called on Israel not to apply the NGO registration law in its current form.

The European Council said: "We call on Israel to allow international non-governmental organizations to operate and provide vital aid to needy civilians in Palestine."

The Council added: "Without these international organizations, humanitarian aid cannot be delivered at the required level to prevent further loss of life in Gaza."

The Council explained: "In order to provide aid quickly, safely, and in the required volume, international non-governmental organizations must be able to operate in a continuous and predictable manner. Without them, vital aid will not reach the beneficiaries."

It pointed out that providing humanitarian aid and services to civilians depends on safe and open access. Under international humanitarian law, the rapid and unobstructed passage of initial humanitarian aid must be allowed and facilitated.

In response, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that "political motives" stand behind the European statement, accusing it of being "detached from the reality on the ground and from broader regional operations."

The Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed in its post on the "X" platform that relief organizations are still operating normally inside Gaza, and that the vast majority of registered non-governmental organizations are active and continue their work without interruption.

The Ministry claimed that the registration requirements represent "a necessary security measure," and that "registration is still available and all requests are reviewed and processed according to established procedures."

The Israeli Ministry accused the European statement of "ignoring the ongoing improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza."

The Israeli claims come despite what was stated in the report of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OCHA) on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The bi-weekly report indicated that acute food insecurity and malnutrition in Gaza remain at critical levels, emphasizing the need to ensure predictable and unobstructed access to aid, alongside increasing supplies and sustainable funding to transition from emergency to early recovery efforts.

The report confirmed that the humanitarian convoys operated by the United Nations