Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a new oversight protocol Wednesday for international aid organizations operating in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, rejecting petitions from 19 groups that refused to meet Israel’s transparency and security vetting requirements.
The ruling backs Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli’s policy requiring aid groups to register, provide full information about their activities and staff, and undergo security checks as a condition for continued operations in Israel.
For decades, many international organizations operated under a humanitarian cover without adequate oversight—a situation frequently exploited for terrorist purposes. After serious gaps were exposed following the October 7 attack, Chikli led a precedent-setting policy shift. Among the organizations that refused to cooperate was Doctors Without Borders, which employed Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives.
Chikli welcomed the decision: “Rejecting the petition confirms the precedent-setting policy we led: The State of Israel will not allow terrorist activity under the guise of humanitarian work. The party is over!”
The justices ruled that screening and security vetting procedures are part of the state’s core authorities and that the requirements are proportionate. Under the decision, the organizations must now submit the required documents within 30 days or their operations will be immediately halted.
The new protocol is being implemented by a broad inter-ministerial team led by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, with participation from the Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry, National Security Ministry, COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories), the Shin Bet, and Israel Police. The team’s goal is to ensure aid organizations are not exploited by terrorist elements, thereby strengthening Israel’s security and that of its residents.