Israel’s allies condemn ban on dozens of aid groups
Financial Times••general
Key Points:
- Israel plans to suspend 37 international aid groups, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières, from operating in Gaza due to their refusal to comply with a new registration law requiring disclosure of all employees, sparking condemnation from key Israeli allies.
- The new law, set to take effect in 2024, is criticized for breaching EU data protection laws and endangering NGO staff, potentially disrupting life-saving humanitarian aid and healthcare services in Gaza and the West Bank.
- A coalition of foreign ministers from countries including the UK, France, and Canada warned the suspension would severely impact essential services, with one-third of Gaza’s health facilities at risk of closure amid an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
- Israeli authorities defend the
