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SvennoJ on 01 January 2026
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UN slams Israel’s suspension of aid groups, calls move ‘outrageous’

The UN has described Israel’s suspension of a group of aid organisations as “outrageous”.

Ravina Shamdasani, the UN human rights spokesperson, said the move was the “latest in a pattern of unlawful restrictions” by Israeli authorities, as well as attacks on Israeli and Palestinian NGOs, amid broader access problems faced by the UN and other humanitarian groups.

Israel said the restrictions were imposed because the organisations failed to comply with its vetting procedures, which many aid groups have denied as arbitrary.

The suspension affects international aid groups, including ActionAid and Doctors Without Borders.

UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking UNRWA utilities

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Israel’s adoption of amendments to a law targeting UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

The amendments, passed by the Knesset on December 29, seek to cut electricity and water to UNRWA facilities.

Guterres said the law violates UNRWA’s international legal protections and called for its immediate repeal, stressing that UNRWA property is “inviolable” under UN conventions.


Israeli rights groups condemn NGO deregistration

Nineteen Israeli human rights organisations have condemned an Israeli government decision to deregister dozens of international humanitarian groups operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The groups, united under The Platform coalition, issued a joint statement on Wednesday criticising measures that restrict access to life-saving assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. The deregistration of 37 NGOs comes as humanitarian access has been severely constrained since October 2023, with essential aid including food, medicine and hygiene items delayed or denied.

“The new registration framework violates core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality,” the statement said, adding that it “weaponizes bureaucracy” and “institutionalizes barriers” forcing vital organisations to suspend operations.

The groups called on Israel to “immediately halt deregistration proceedings” and allow international organisations to operate safely, saying ensuring humanitarian aid access “is a legal obligation, not a discretionary choice”.