Thirty-seven international aid groups have launched a joint legal battle, taking Israel’s government to the High Court. The groups petition judges to block a government order that would force them to halt all operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Aid groups seek injunction to halt disruption in Gaza
According to the statement, the groups filed the petition, seeking an interim injunction to suspend the looming expiry of their registrations. They also seek to prevent what they describe as a catastrophic disruption to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza and the West Bank.
Under revised registration rules imposed by Israeli authorities, the organisations received formal notification on 30 December 2025. The notification indicates that their Israeli registrations would expire the following day.
The directive grants them a 60-day window ending on 28 February 2026 to wind down all activities. In the letter, Israeli officials stated the only way to overturn the decision is for the groups to complete a full re-registration process.
The aid organisations, however, maintain that compliance would require them to violate international law and fundamental ethical principles protecting their staff.
Legal battle intensifies over demand for alleged breach of Geneva Convention
The petitioners warn that the forced closures would cripple a civilian population already on the brink. In Gaza, families remain almost entirely dependent on external aid amidst continued restrictions on supply entry and renewed military strikes.
In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the petitioners highlight escalating humanitarian needs. This is driven by military incursions, demolitions, settlement expansion, and settler violence.
The legal challenge centres on the demand that organisations transfer comprehensive lists of their national staff to Israeli authorities. The groups argue this exposes Palestinian employees to potential retaliation and fatally undermines established data protection and confidentiality protocols.
“For European organisations in particular, compliance would create serious legal and contractual liabilities. More broadly, such requirements set a precedent that could chill principled humanitarian engagement in highly politicised contexts,” the groups state in their petition.
The organisations argue that registration with the Palestinian Authority provides the lawful basis for their operations. They contend that under the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel, as the occupying power, bears the legal obligation to facilitate relief for civilians under its control.
Additionally, groups have proposed practical alternatives to the Israeli demands. This includes independent sanctions screening and donor audited vetting systems designed to protect both compliance and staff safety.
According to the petition, Israeli authorities have provided no substantive response to these proposals. Aid workers report blocked supplies, denial of visas, and restricted access for foreign staff.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza has been steadily rising following an increase in Israeli attacks in the region. These attacks continue despite the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Similarly, a top international lawyer and former United Nations official, Francesca Albanese, has declared that Israel possesses no legal authority over the Gaza Strip.