Eduardo González
The Spanish government expressed its rejection on Friday, January 2nd, of the Israeli government’s decision to revoke the licenses of humanitarian NGOs operating in Palestine with the aim of expelling them.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected “the Israeli government’s decision to apply registration regulations to humanitarian NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, revoking their licenses, with the aim of expelling them and preventing their work.”
“With these measures, which have affected recognized Spanish and international NGOs, Israel is thus limiting the work of NGOs and humanitarian actors to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and meet the most basic needs of the Palestinian population,” the statement continued.
“This decision comes on top of the recent Knesset approval of the law that mandates cutting off electricity and water supplies to UNRWA facilities in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to stripping it of its immunities and privileges,” the statement noted.
The Spanish Government also reiterated “its deepest concern about the severe impact these decisions will have on the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” and urged the Israeli Government “to reverse these unacceptable decisions that prevent essential humanitarian actors from working, saving lives and addressing the urgent basic needs of the Palestinian civilian population and refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and throughout the Middle East region.”
“Spain reaffirms its commitment to and recognition of the work of Spanish and international humanitarian NGOs, essential and irreplaceable actors in their humanitarian work, who operate independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering, and maintain the dignity of the Palestinian population,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared.
“The Government of Spain reiterates the legal obligation of the Government of Israel, as an occupying power, to comply with international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention and the protection of the civilian population, and to abide by the rulings of the International Court of Justice, including the advisory opinions issued in July 2024 and October 2025,” it concluded.
On January 1, Israeli authorities adopted new regulations that will force NGOs to suspend their activities before March 1 for failing to complete the registration process approved by Israel in March 2025. The registration regulations, which included the obligation to provide the names of all employees, were approved for “security reasons” in order to verify their possible links to “terrorist organizations.”
In total, 37 NGOs from 16 countries (including Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada) will be affected by this regulation, including such well-known organizations as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Action Against Hunger, Oxfam, and Caritas. Israel has the power to grant or deny visas to NGO workers operating in Palestine and to control their access to Gaza and the West Bank.
