UK urges Israel to drop ‘restrictive new registration requirements’ for NGOs

David Lammy has joined with foreign ministers from 27 countries to urge Israel not to enforce “restrictive new registration requirements” on humanitarian organisations delivering aid in Gaza and the West Bank.

A statement published on Tuesday, signed by the UK’s foreign secretary along with counterparts including those in Australia, Canada, France and Japan, claimed:”The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes.

“Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicised.

“However, due to restrictive new registration requirements, essential international NGOs may be forced to leave the OPTs imminently which would worsen the humanitarian situation still further.

“We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating. Immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs and humanitarian partners.”

In March Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli called the new policy i a “dramatic change” in Israel’s approach to foreign NGOs.

Critics of Israel’s recent registration system of international humanitarian organisations say it would force NGO staff to leave Israel by next month — widening the gap of critical aid needed in Gaza and elsewhere in occupied Palestinian territories.

The EU’s foreign policy chief and United Nations Office for the Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have also raised concerns about the new system.

They claim Israel is requiring NGOs to share sensitive personal information about their Palestinian employees or face termination of their humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

NGOs already registered in Israel may face de-registration, new applicants can risk rejection if any of their staff had expressed support for accountability of Israel’s international law violations.

The statement signed by the UK and released by the foreign office added:”All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment.

“Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected.”

“This directive marks a dramatic shift in Israel’s policy toward foreign entities that, under the guise of humanitarian aid, undermine the state’s existence, promote boycotts, and blacken its reputation,” Minister Chikli said in a statement earlier this year.

“The Diaspora Affairs Ministry thanks the government for entrusting us with this critical task. Israel will protect its sovereignty.”