The UN and humanitarian agencies warn that Israel’s policies are threatening aid operations in Gaza

The United Nations and aid groups warned on Wednesday that humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, risk collapsing if Israel does not remove obstacles that include an “unclear, arbitrary and highly politicized” registration process.

Dozens of international aid groups face delisting by Dec. 31, meaning they must shut down operations within 60 days, the UN and more than 200 local and international aid groups said in a joint statement.

“The deletion of NGOs (international aid groups) in Gaza will have a devastating impact on access to essential and basic services,” the statement said.

“NGOs run or support the majority of field hospitals, primary health care centers, emergency shelter response, water and sanitation services, nutrition stabilization centers for acutely malnourished children and critical mine action activities,” it said.

While some international aid groups have signed up to the system introduced in March, “the ongoing re-registration process and other arbitrary obstacles to humanitarian operations have left millions of dollars worth of essential supplies – including food, medical supplies, hygiene materials and shelter assistance – stuck outside Gaza and unable to reach people in need.”

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Israel’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.

Under the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas began on October 10. More aid began to flow into the enclave, where a global hunger monitor declared in August that famine had prevailed.

However, Hamas says fewer aid trucks are entering Gaza than agreed. Aid agencies say there is far less aid than is needed and that Israel is blocking the entry of many essential items. Israel denies this, says it is abiding by its obligations under the ceasefire.

“The UN will not be able to compensate for the collapse of NGO operations if they are written off and the humanitarian response cannot be replaced by alternative actors operating outside established humanitarian principles,” the UN and aid agencies said in a statement.

The statement stressed that “humanitarian access is not optional, conditional or political,” adding: “Lifesaving aid must be allowed to reach the Palestinians without further delay.”