Israel to halt operations of several Gaza aid agencies

Israel on Tuesday said it will suspend over two dozen humanitarian organisations, including Doctors Without Borders, for failing to meet its new rules to vet international organisations working in Gaza.

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The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs said the organisations that will be banned on Jan. 1 did not meet new requirements for sharing staff, funding and operations information. It accused Doctors Without Borders, one of the largest health organisations operating in Gaza, of failing to clarify the roles of some staff that Israel accused of cooperation with Hamas and other groups.

International organisations have said Israel's rules are arbitrary and could endanger staff. The ministry said around 25 organisations, or 158, of the NGOs working in Gaza did not have their permits renewed.

Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israel previously accused its staff of involvement in military activities in Gaza in 2024.

At the time, the group said it was “deeply concerned by these allegations and is taking them very seriously.”

The group said it would never knowingly employ people engaged in military activity.