AGENCIES

The EU warned yesterday that Israel’s threat to suspend several aid groups in Gaza under new registration rules would block “life-saving” assistance from reaching the population.

“The EU has been clear: the NGO registration law can not be implemented in its current form,” EU humanitarian chief Hadja Lahbib posted on X, after Israel said several groups would be barred from January 1.

“IHL (international humanitarian law) leaves no room for doubt: aid must reach those in need,” Lahbib wrote.

Israel warned on Tuesday that it would suspend from January several aid organisations operating in Gaza for failing to provide details about their Palestinian staff, accusing two Doctors Without Borders employees of links to Hamas.

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said in a statement the move was part of Israel’s decision to “strengthen and update” regulations governing the activities of international NGOs in the Palestinian territory.

“Humanitarian organisations that fail to meet security and transparency requirements will have their licences suspended,” the ministry said.

The foreign ministers of 10 nations on Tuesday expressed “serious concerns” about a “renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation” in Gaza, saying the situation was “catastrophic”.

The warning came a day after US President Donald Trump warned Hamas there would be “hell to pay” if it fails to disarm in Gaza, as he presented a united front with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reports AFP.