The UN and other aid agencies fear new Israeli registration rules for dozens of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) risk the collapse of the humanitarian response in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
INGOs not registered by 31 December face closure of their operations in Israel within 60 days, which the agencies say could severely disrupt healthcare and other life-saving services in Gaza.
Save the Children said its application had not been approved and it was pursuing all available avenues to have this decision reconsidered.
Israel's ministry of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism said the departure of rogue organisations would not affect the delivery of aid.
Fourteen out of approximately 100 applications have so far been rejected, while 21 have been approved, with others still undergoing review, according to the ministry.
The registration system introduced in March includes several grounds for rejection, including political stances against Israel, denial of the Holocaust, or support for armed struggle.
The Humanitarian Country Team in the region warned that the new system fundamentally jeopardises operations in Gaza and the West Bank, as the vague criteria could lead to more rejections, risking humanitarian principles.
INGOs currently run the majority of essential health services, and closure of their operations would effectively leave significant gaps in healthcare in Gaza, threatening lives as needs grow more urgent.
Save the Children confirmed its application was denied, and they are exploring legal options, while MSF continues to provide critical healthcare amidst ongoing challenges.
An Israeli official asserted that organizations had ample time to register and that humanitarian aid would continue through approved entities, dismissing claims that the process was flawed.
