Israel to ban dozens of aid agencies from Gaza as 10 nations warn about suffering

"Israel has announced it will stop dozens of aid organisations working in Gaza within 36 hours for failing to meet stringent new requirements to hand over personal details of Palestinian and international staff deployed in the devastated territory. The list of groups hit by the ban include some of the world's best known humanitarian organisations such as ActionAid, International Rescue Committee and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)."

"Foreign ministers of 10 nations expressed serious concerns about a renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the devastated territory, saying the situation was catastrophic. As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping, the ministers of Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland said in a joint statement released by the UK's Foreign Office on Tuesday."

"1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding, the statement added. The ministers called for the UN and its partners to be able to continue their work in Gaza, and for the lifting of unreasonable [Israeli] restrictions on imports considered to have a dual use."

Israel will stop dozens of aid organisations working in Gaza within 36 hours for failing to hand over personal details of Palestinian and international staff, affecting groups including ActionAid, International Rescue Committee and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). The announcement by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs coincides with fierce storms that destroyed thousands of tents and worsened humanitarian conditions. Ten foreign ministers warned that the situation is catastrophic, noting 1.3 million people need urgent shelter, more than half of health facilities are only partially functional, and sanitation collapse leaves 740,000 vulnerable to toxic flooding. Ministers urged lifting unreasonable dual-use import restrictions and opening crossings to increase aid.

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