TEL AVIV: Following Israel’s decision to suspend the licenses of over three dozen humanitarian organizations this week, aid groups are trying to determine what this means for their activities in Gaza and their capacity to assist tens of thousands of desperate Palestinians.
The 37 groups are among the most notable of the more than 100 independent nongovernmental organizations that work in Gaza alongside United Nations agencies. Doctors Without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, and Medical Aid for Palestinians have all been prohibited. The organizations do everything from provide tents and water to assist clinics and medical facilities. The overall impact, however, is unknown.
The most immediate consequence of the license revocation is that Israel will no longer let the groups to transport goods into the Gaza Strip or send international staff into the enclave. Israel says all suspended groups must cease activity by March 1.
Some groups have already been prohibited from bringing in aid. The Norwegian Refugee Council, for example, claims it has not been allowed to bring in supplies in ten months, forcing it to distribute tents and aid brought in by other NGOs.
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