A coalition of 41 aid agencies has called for Israel to ease the flow of aid into the devastated Gaza strip or "preventable deaths will rise".
Despite a ceasefire having been agreed and all living hostages having been released, the organisations say new registration methods are holding up the flow of aid - the allowance of which was one of the conditions of the ceasefire.
Under the new provisions, international NGOs face de-registration or rejection for new applications based on things like 'delegitimising Israel'; expressing support for action against Israel for violations of international law; or public support for a boycott of Israel within the past seven years (by staff, a partner, board member, or founder).
INGOs are further required to submit complete staff lists and other sensitive information about staff and their families to Israel when applying for registration.
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More than 400 humanitarian aid workers have been killed in Gaza in the past two years, while on Wednesday the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel, as the occupying power, must allow UN aid agency in Gaza, known as UNRWA, to provide humanitarian assistance to the war-torn territory alongside international organisations and third states.
A statement signed by 41 aid agencies including Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières and ActionAid says that between 10 and 21 of October 2025, 17 INGOs have had urgent shipments of aid, including water, food, tents and medical supplies denied entry into Gaza. 94% of all rejections by Israeli authorities were given to INGOs, the groups said.
Three-quarters of these denials were issued on the grounds that organisations are “not authorised” to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza. This includes agencies that continue to have long-standing INGO registration with Palestinian and Israeli authorities and are legally permitted to operate by the latter while new registration processes are ongoing.
Between 10 and 21 October, 99 requests by international NGOs to deliver aid into Gaza were rejected, while six requests submitted by the UN agencies were denied. Aid denied by Israeli authorities includes tents and tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, food and nutrition supplies, hygiene kits, sanitation materials, assistive devices, and children’s clothing, all of which should be unrestricted during the ceasefire.
The joint aid agencies said: "The announcement of a ceasefire was welcomed as a critical moment of relief for Palestinian civilians, yet reports of renewed violations highlight its fragility. The continued rejection of aid entry is deeply alarming. After more than two years of relentless and continued bombardments — with dozens killed in the past week alone — and the resulting deprivation, forced displacement, and starvation, blocking humanitarian expertise and supplies undermines the collective effort to save lives.
"Almost $50 million worth of essential goods from operational INGOs — food, medical supplies, hygiene items, and shelter materials — remain stockpiled at crossings and warehouses, unable to reach those in need. Palestinians in Gaza are now bracing for winter, many in makeshift shelters without insulation, heating, clean water, or toilet facilities.
"Time is running out, without immediate, unimpeded access, preventable deaths will rise.
"The restrictions are depriving Palestinians from lifesaving aid and undermining coordination of the response system in Gaza which relies on collaboration between local organisations, national institutions, UN agencies and international NGOs.
"Humanitarian access is a legal obligation under international law, not a concession of the ceasefire. The ceasefire must ensure a lasting end to hostilities and guarantee the free, safe, principled and sustained flow of aid in line with Palestinians rights to safety, dignity, and self-determination. Anything less risks turning relief into yet another broken promise. Israel’s new registration system must be rescinded to allow aid to move freely, unimpeded and unrestricted."
Signatory organizations operational in Gaza directly or through partners:
- ACS Associazione Cooperazione e Solidarieta'
- Action Against Hunger (ACF)
- Action For Humanity
- ActionAid Denmark
- ActionAid International
- American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
- CESVI Fondazione - ETS
- CISS - Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud
- DanChurchAid
- Diakonia
- Finn Church Aid
- Glia
- HEKS/EPER(Swiss Church Aid)
- HelpAge International
- Humanity & Inclusion - Handicap International
- Humanity First UK
- IDEALS
- Islamic Relief Worldwide
- Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
- Médecins du Monde International Network (MdM)
- Médecins Sans Frontières
- MedGlobal
- Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
- Medico International
- Mennonite Central Committee
- NORWAC-Norwegian Aid Committee
- Norwegian Church Aid
- Norwegian People’s Aid
- Norwegian Refugee Council
- Oxfam
- Palestinian Medical Relief Society
- People in Need
- Plan International
- Première Urgence Internationale
- Secours Islamique France (SIF)
- Terre des Hommes Italy
- Terre des hommes Lausanne
- The Center for Mind Body Medicine - CMBM
- The Middle East Children's Alliance
- War Child Alliance
- Welthungerhilfe
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