Nonprofits slam Israeli revocation of West Bank, Gaza licenses; Catholic org vows to keep operating

Caritas Jerusalem will continue to operate in Gaza, West Bank, and Jerusalem, a spokesperson of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says in a statement, one day after the Diaspora Affairs Ministry announced that the licenses of 37 international nonprofits will expire on January 1 because the groups did not comply with stringent new requirements to register with the government.

Other nonprofit groups and international organizations slammed the license revocation as well, saying it endangers aid provision during a precarious winter in Gaza.

Israeli authorities maintain that the new regulations are necessary due to what they say are findings by the security services that some nonprofit organization workers have been involved in terrorist activities. Israel has accused terror groups of diverting aid.

According to the statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which represents the Catholic Church, Caritas Jerusalem’s “status and mission have been recognized by the State of Israel through” two foundational agreements signed in the 1990s “between the Holy See and the State of Israel.”

The statement acknowledged that the group “has not undertaken any re-registration process with the Israeli authorities.”

“Caritas Jerusalem will continue its humanitarian and development operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, in accordance with its mandate,” the statement further reads.

Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella Catholic humanitarian group that brings together over 160 associations worldwide, is likewise included on the list of organizations set to be banned.

The list also includes chapters of Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, the International Rescue Committee, and Refugees International.

“This action has no legitimate basis, and as such, constitutes a violation of the intent of the Trump-brokered cease-fire agreement,” Refugees International says in a statement, referring to the October ceasefire in Gaza backed by US President Donald Trump. “The suspension is not motivated by a sincere desire to prevent diversion of aid; it is a pretext to further restrict aid to Gaza while silencing independent aid organizations.”

“This action will cost the lives of Palestinians,” it warns.