Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
UN, partners call on Israel to reverse NGO suspensions
OCHA reports that following yesterday’s announcement by the Israeli authorities of their intention to suspend the operations of several international NGOs in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies and more than 200 international and local NGOs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory have urged the authorities to reconsider this decision. They stressed that international NGOs play a critical role in delivering life-saving assistance and that their suspension would severely undermine the humanitarian response.
OCHA says that international NGOs deliver a significant share of life-saving services, technical expertise and humanitarian supplies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In Gaza, they constitute most of the UN’s partners working on health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene services; they operate most sites providing cooked meals; and they hold the majority of shelter and other supplies currently in the pipeline.
Two weeks ago, the UN and its humanitarian partners warned that the registration system introduced by the Israeli authorities for international NGOs earlier in 2025 put dozens of organizations at risk of deregistration in 2026.
They cautioned the loss of NGO capacity would severely disrupt life-saving services – including health care, nutrition treatment, water and sanitation, and emergency shelter – at a time when needs are acute and there are no viable alternatives.
OCHA says that already in 2025, many international NGOs have been banned from bringing in supplies to Gaza, with visas largely withheld.
In a statement issued today, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk reminded the Israeli authorities of their obligation under international law to ensure the essential supplies of daily life in Gaza, including by allowing and facilitating humanitarian relief.
In parallel, UNRWA continues to face further restrictions. On Monday, the Israeli parliament passed new legislation cutting off water, electricity, fuel and communications from UNRWA’s facilities and authorizing the expropriation of UN properties. In a social media post issued yesterday, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philipp Lazzarini, said the legislation was “a direct affront to the mandate granted to the Agency by the UN General Assembly and contrary to findings of the International Court of Justice, which oblige Israel to fulfil its responsibilities as a UN Member State to UNRWA and the broader UN system.” He warned that these measures undermine UN’s independence and privileges, set a dangerous precedent globally, and risk compromising humanitarian and human rights work worldwide.
Meanwhile in Gaza, OCHA reports that humanitarian partners continue helping people affected by the latest rainstorms. This month, the UN and its partners have provided tents, tarpaulins and bedding items to more than 80,000 households – or approximately 448,400 people.
OCHA says that, while this is significant, it remains far from enough, as many families are still struggling in weather-damaged makeshift tents or war-damaged buildings at risk of collapse. An easing of restrictions on bringing in shelter materials and other critical items is urgently needed.
Yesterday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that it has opened a second site in Khan Younis for emergency distributions of animal feed and veterinary supplies. FAO has been helping approximately 2,000 families in the Gaza Strip who still have sheep and goats to protect their livestock and combat acute malnutrition.
Meanwhile, obstructions to the movement of aid workers in parts of Gaza continue. Of six such movements that the UN and its humanitarian partners attempted to coordinate with the Israeli authorities yesterday, two were denied and four faced impediments. Nevertheless, humanitarians managed to collect food and other supplies from the Kerem Shalom crossing.
In the West Bank, OCHA reports that between 28 and 30 December, rainstorms damaged homes, infrastructure and livestock structures, especially in the northern areas and in several herding communities, forcing people out of their homes. The Palestinian Civil Defense reported on Sunday that its teams responded to hundreds of incidents, including fires and rescue operations.
Against this backdrop, OCHA reports that Israeli bulldozers started demolishing 25 buildings in and around Nur Shams Camp this morning, affecting about 70 households.
The demolitions follow the Israeli authorities’ issuance of demolition orders on 14 December that reportedly target both single-family houses and multi-unit residential buildings located in three neighbourhoods of the refugee camp.