UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Israel on Friday to reverse its ban on humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza, expressing deep concern over the move.
His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated Guterres views international NGOs as essential for life-saving aid, warning the suspension threatens fragile ceasefire gains and worsens the Palestinian humanitarian crisis.
Ban Details and Reactions
Israel suspended 37 foreign organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) with 1,200 staff mostly in Gaza, after they refused to share Palestinian employee lists. Affected groups must halt operations by March 1.
NGOs argue the demands violate humanitarian law and independence principles. Israel claims the rules block terrorism-linked entities. Eighteen Israeli left-wing NGOs condemned the policy as breaching neutrality.
Conflict Context
The ban follows an October ceasefire after Israel’s war response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. Gaza reports over 70,000 deaths since then, with UN data showing 80% of buildings destroyed or damaged, displacing 1.5 million of 2 million residents.
