ASIA/HOLY LAND - Appeal from 53 humanitarian Organizations: "False narratives" to sabotage those saving lives in Palestine

Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – Both Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Jerusalem are among the 37 humanitarian organizations that received notification from Israeli authorities on December 30 informing them that their “permits” would expire the following day, Wednesday, December 31.

From that date, Israeli authorities have granted the 37 organizations 60 days to cease their humanitarian assistance operations in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The measures taken by the Israeli authorities were justified by alleging non-compliance with the requirements established by the new registration rules, and in particular the alleged failure to provide the “complete” personal data of the members of their respective staff members.

In a joint statement, 53 international humanitarian organizations operating in the Palestinian Territories denounced that “the recent search measures adopted by Israel will hinder crucial humanitarian action at a time when the civilian population faces a severe and widespread humanitarian need, despite the ceasefire in Gaza.”

The NGOs reiterated their commitment to providing “large-scale, life-saving assistance,” in collaboration with the United Nations and Palestinian civil society organizations, and called on Israel to revoke measures designed to jeopardize humanitarian work that is currently indispensable.

The statement is signed by, among other organizations, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Pax Christi USA, Islamic Relief, and Emergency.

The text emphasizes that, in Palestine, humanitarian organizations affected by Israeli measures “support 60% of field hospitals, manage almost three-quarters of reception and non-food distribution activities, and provide all care for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Their withdrawal would lead to the closure of health facilities, the interruption of food distribution, the collapse of shelter systems, and the suspension of life-saving treatments.”
Recalling that 500 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, the NGOs explain that “they cannot transfer sensitive personal data to one of the parties to the conflict, as this would violate humanitarian principles, the duty of care, and data protection obligations. False narratives delegitimize humanitarian organizations, endanger staff, and jeopardize aid delivery.”

On December 31, Farid Jubran, spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, issued a statement clarifying that Caritas Jerusalem “is a humanitarian and development organization that operates under the authority and governance of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. In Israel, Caritas Jerusalem is an Ecclesiastical Legal Entity, whose status and mission were recognized by the State of Israel through the 1993 Fundamental Agreement and the subsequent 1997 Agreement on Legal Personality, signed between the Holy See and the State of Israel.” Therefore, “Caritas Jerusalem has not initiated any re-registration process with the Israeli authorities.”
Furthermore, “Caritas Internationalis does not initiate or carry out any direct intervention within the country.” The clarification statement adds that Caritas Jerusalem “will continue its humanitarian and development operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, in accordance with its mandate.” (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 2/1/2026)

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