Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis: International Organizations Begin Withdrawal from Gaza Under Pressure of Occupation Restrictions

Major international relief organizations have begun procedures to withdraw their staff from the Gaza Strip, a dangerous field development that portends an exacerbation of the humanitarian catastrophe experienced by the Strip's residents. This step comes in response to severe restrictions imposed by the occupation authorities, which set a deadline at the beginning of next month for the cessation of activities of dozens of humanitarian bodies.

Informed sources reported that the occupation authorities notified about 37 international organizations, including long-standing European and British institutions, of the expiration of their legal registration to operate in the Palestinian territories. The occupation authorities stipulated that to renew this registration, detailed lists of local staff names and accurate information about funding sources must be provided.

These measures have raised widespread fears of a complete collapse of the relief system within the besieged Strip. The concerned organizations considered these demands a blatant violation of the principles of data protection and the confidentiality of humanitarian workers, which threatens the independence of their field operations.

International bodies affirmed that complying with Israeli conditions exposes the lives of their local staff to direct risks and security persecutions. They also stressed that this policy undermines bridges of trust between international donors and aid beneficiaries in affected areas.

Among the organizations threatened with cessation are institutions that form the backbone of relief work, such as 'Action Against Hunger' and 'ActionAid'. The list also includes 'Alliance for Solidarity' and 'Campaign for the Children of Palestine', which manage vital projects in the food and water sectors.

According to media sources, the decision also affected 'CARE' and 'DanChurchAid' and the 'Danish Refugee Council'. These institutions are responsible for securing basic needs for thousands of displaced people who have lost their homes and livelihoods during the ongoing war.

Israeli notifications also included the 'International Disability Alliance' and the 'Japan International Volunteer Center', in addition to multiple branches of 'Doctors of the World'. These entities play a pivotal role in providing specialized healthcare and psychological and social support to vulnerable groups.

Among the most prominent organizations that have begun to reduce their presence are 'Doctors Without Borders' with its various branches, 'Mercy Corps', and the 'Norwegian Refugee Council'. These organizations manage emergency medical and food programs that cannot be replaced given the massive destruction inflicted on local institutions.

Field reports warned that the cessation of 'Oxfam' and the 'International Rescue Committee's' work would create a humanitarian gap that cannot be filled in the short term. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian families depend entirely on the aid provided by these entities to survive.

Several institutions have already begun closing their offices in Gaza and the West Bank, and have started evacuating their international staff before the specified deadline. This relief vacuum will immediately lead to the cessation of the distribution of ready-to-eat meals and essential health baskets to prevent epidemics.

Damage is expected to affect therapeutic feeding programs for children suffering from severe malnutrition in the northern and southern parts of the Strip. Basic healthcare services provided to pregnant women will also cease, increasing the risks of maternal and infant mortality.

Mobile clinics and first aid points, which form a vital lifeline in areas where hospitals have been destroyed, are also threatened with complete cessation. This will exacerbate the spread of infectious diseases associated with water contamination and a lack of safe food for displaced populations.

The danger is not limited to the service aspect but also extends to the absence of field monitoring and independent documentation of violations and humanitarian conditions. These organizations are considered international witnesses to what is happening on the ground, which the occupation seeks to obscure through these restrictions.

These rapid developments come at a time when the political track is witnessing a clear stumbling block in moving to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. This overlap between political pressures and humanitarian needs increases the suffering of the Strip's residents who face harsh living conditions.

The new Israeli conditions affect the core of humanitarian work and its independence, exposing local staff to direct risks and undermining trust with donors.