SARI Global Analysis · 16 March 2025
Implementation of New Israeli NGO Registration and Visa Regulations
Israel has announced sweeping new visa and registration rules for international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the West Bank and Gaza, granting its authorities extensive discretion to approve or reject registrations on political and security grounds. The rules take effect within six months, and every currently registered NGO must reapply or risk losing authorisation to operate.
Israeli NGO registration rules at a glance
- Israel announced new visa and registration rules for international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the West Bank and Gaza in March 2025; they take effect within six months, and every currently registered NGO must reapply or risk losing authorisation to operate.
- Under Israel’s new NGO registration rules, an organisation can be rejected if it or any of its staff has ever supported boycotts, questioned Israel’s definition as a Jewish and democratic state, or backed international legal action against Israeli military or security personnel.
- The 2025 Israeli regulations require NGOs to hand over the names, contact details and national ID numbers of Palestinian employees, a demand NGOs regard as a security threat given that over 300 humanitarian personnel have been killed in the Gaza conflict, according to agency estimates.
- NGOs that fail to comply with the new Israeli rules face deregistration with only seven days to appeal, and Israel’s High Court has rejected a challenge by the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), leaving limited legal recourse within Israel.
- SARI Global assesses that NGOs refusing the new Israeli requirements may be forced to abandon critical life-saving operations in Gaza and the West Bank, leaving millions of Palestinians without essential aid.
- SARI Global’s most likely scenario for international NGOs in the occupied Palestinian territories is heightened operational constraints with partial NGO compliance; its worst case is mass deregistration and collapse of international humanitarian operations.
Israel’s new NGO registration and visa rules for the West Bank and Gaza
In a significant development impacting international humanitarian operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Israeli government has announced sweeping new visa and registration rules for international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the West Bank and Gaza.
These measures, introduced in March 2025, grant Israeli authorities extensive discretion to approve or reject NGO registrations based on a broad set of political and security-related criteria. The regulations are set to take effect within six months, requiring all currently registered NGOs to reapply under the new system or risk losing authorisation to operate.
Political and security criteria for NGO registration
Grounds for registration rejection
The new guidelines allow Israel to reject NGO registration if an organisation or any of its staff has ever supported or endorsed actions considered hostile to Israel’s national interests. These include support for boycotts, questioning Israel’s definition as a Jewish and democratic state, or backing international legal action against Israeli military or security personnel. Aid organisations have expressed profound concern over these provisions, arguing that they politicise humanitarian work, compromise operational neutrality, and expose both local and international staff to heightened risks.
Disclosure requirements for NGOs
A particularly contentious aspect of the new rules is the requirement for NGOs to submit personal identification data, including names, contact details, and national ID numbers of Palestinian employees, to Israeli authorities.
Given the high number of Palestinian aid workers killed in the ongoing Gaza conflict, over 300 humanitarian personnel according to agency estimates, NGOs view this demand as not only a breach of confidentiality but also a security threat to their staff, who would be exposed as collaborators in a highly volatile environment.
How Israel justifies the new NGO registration system
Official justifications
Israeli authorities, notably COGAT (the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories), defend the new system as necessary for national security and as a streamlining of outdated registration processes. However, they continue to accuse humanitarian organisations of aiding Hamas, allegations consistently denied by the humanitarian community.
The announcement follows a broader Israeli campaign to constrain aid access to Gaza, including Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent decision to block all humanitarian supplies as leverage to secure the release of hostages taken during the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks.
Expanded disclosure obligations
Furthermore, the regulations demand extensive disclosure from NGOs, including details of foreign staff and their families, donor lists, and associations with other organisations or UN agencies. Aid organisations now face the prospect of having to comply or cease operations. Failure to comply will result in deregistration, with only seven days allotted for appeal, a timeline many NGOs deem untenable.
| Requirement | What the new rules provide |
|---|---|
| Re-registration | All currently registered NGOs must reapply under the new system; the rules take effect within six months |
| Grounds for rejection | Organisation or any staff member has ever supported actions considered hostile to Israel’s national interests, including boycotts, questioning Israel’s definition as a Jewish and democratic state, or backing international legal action against Israeli military or security personnel |
| Palestinian staff data | Names, contact details and national ID numbers of Palestinian employees |
| Foreign staff | Details of foreign staff and their families |
| Funding and links | Donor lists, and associations with other organisations or UN agencies |
| Non-compliance | Deregistration, with seven days allotted for appeal |
Who decides on NGO registration: the government committee
Government committee composition
The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, led by Minister Amichai Chikli, has justified the new measures as essential to prevent foreign entities from conducting what it describes as anti-Israel propaganda under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Yet legal experts and human rights organisations argue that the new committee overseeing NGO registrations, which includes security and intelligence officials unfamiliar with humanitarian law, lacks the necessary expertise and will likely operate with a political agenda.
International humanitarian law and the obligations of the occupying power
Israel’s obligations under international law
These developments raise serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with its obligations under international humanitarian law. As the occupying power, Israel is legally required to facilitate humanitarian assistance and protect civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has explicitly ordered Israel to ensure adequate humanitarian access to Gaza, including sufficient supplies of food, water, and medical care, to prevent genocide and mass suffering.
The new NGO registration regulations threaten to obstruct these obligations, placing NGOs in an impossible position: comply with potentially illegal and unethical demands, or forfeit their ability to operate.
Impact on humanitarian missions
Humanitarian organisations are now confronting a dilemma that strikes at the heart of their missions. If they comply, they may endanger staff and compromise their principles of neutrality and impartiality.
Israel’s High Court ruling leaves NGOs limited legal recourse
Court rulings and reactions
The situation is further complicated by Israel’s explicit threats against NGOs perceived as critical of its policies, and the recent rejection by Israel’s High Court of a legal challenge to the new regulations filed by the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA).
This judicial decision leaves NGOs with limited legal recourse within Israel.
Advocacy versus operations: the dilemma for NGOs in Gaza
One of the most pressing questions for NGOs is whether they should prioritise humanitarian service delivery, particularly in Gaza, where needs are immense, at the expense of their advocacy work, which involves raising awareness about civilian suffering and human rights violations.
NGO leaders and legal experts warn that the broad and vague directives may target those organisations most vocal in criticising Israel’s actions in Gaza. Under the new rules, any group advocating for the application of international law may be accused of “delegitimising” Israel and face deregistration.
A dangerous precedent for global humanitarian operations
Aid agencies argue that the new Israeli guidelines set a dangerous precedent, potentially influencing how other states might restrict humanitarian work under the guise of national security.
“It’s a dangerous time for Gaza but it also sets a dangerous precedent worldwide.”
Senior aid worker
The future of international humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories remains deeply uncertain.
Anticipatory actions and triggers: two scenarios for NGOs
SARI sets out a most likely and a worst-case scenario, each with the anticipatory actions organisations should take now and the triggers that would signal the scenario is unfolding.
Heightened operational constraints with partial NGO compliance
Most likely
- Immediate engagement of international legal counsel to assess compliance risks and explore protective mechanisms for staff data.
- Development of operational continuity plans, including remote programming, partnerships with local NGOs, and third-party logistics.
- Establishment of robust security protocols to protect Palestinian staff whose data may be shared, including legal aid and potential evacuation options.
- Coordinated diplomatic and public advocacy to pressure for exemptions or modifications to the regulations, leveraging donor influence.
- Internal briefings and mental health support for staff to manage uncertainty and stress related to possible shutdowns.
- Official issuance of re-registration demands with a clear deadline.
- First denial of registration under the new criteria, particularly of a prominent NGO.
- Israeli authorities requesting staff data from NGOs.
- Formal warning letters or threats to NGOs non-compliant with the new rules.
Mass deregistration and collapse of international humanitarian operations
Worst case
- Prepare for phased withdrawal or emergency evacuation of international staff.
- Pre-position resources and capacity-building for local NGOs and community-based organisations to fill gaps, where possible.
- Mobilise flexible, rapid-response funding streams to support alternative channels and mitigate gaps.
- High-level diplomatic engagement to challenge Israeli policy shifts and mobilise international condemnation, including via UN mechanisms.
- Establish crisis management teams to monitor developments, coordinate responses, and manage public relations.
- Mass rejection of NGO re-registration applications.
- Targeted deportations or detentions of NGO staff.
- Direct Israeli military or police actions against NGO offices or personnel.
- Formal Israeli government statement or legislation ending foreign NGO access to the Palestinian territories.
- Escalation of aid denial, including blockade on essential goods, in parallel with NGO deregistration.
Frequently asked questions
What are Israel’s new NGO registration and visa rules?
Israel’s new NGO registration and visa rules, announced in March 2025, govern international non-governmental organisations operating in the West Bank and Gaza. They give Israeli authorities extensive discretion to approve or reject registrations on a broad set of political and security-related criteria. The rules take effect within six months, and all currently registered NGOs must reapply under the new system or risk losing authorisation to operate.
On what grounds can Israel reject an NGO’s registration?
Israel can reject an NGO’s registration if the organisation or any of its staff has ever supported or endorsed actions considered hostile to Israel’s national interests. These include support for boycotts, questioning Israel’s definition as a Jewish and democratic state, or backing international legal action against Israeli military or security personnel. Aid organisations argue these provisions politicise humanitarian work and compromise operational neutrality.
What information must NGOs disclose to Israeli authorities?
NGOs must submit the names, contact details and national ID numbers of Palestinian employees, details of foreign staff and their families, donor lists, and associations with other organisations or UN agencies. NGOs view the Palestinian staff data demand as a breach of confidentiality and a security threat, given that over 300 humanitarian personnel have been killed in the Gaza conflict, according to agency estimates.
What happens if an NGO does not comply with the new rules?
Failure to comply results in deregistration, with only seven days allotted for appeal, a timeline many NGOs deem untenable. Legal options inside Israel are also narrow: Israel’s High Court rejected a legal challenge to the new regulations filed by the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), a decision that leaves NGOs with limited legal recourse within Israel.
How does Israel justify the new NGO regulations?
COGAT (the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) defends the system as necessary for national security and as a streamlining of outdated registration processes. The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, led by Minister Amichai Chikli, says the measures prevent foreign entities from conducting what it describes as anti-Israel propaganda under the guise of humanitarian aid. Humanitarian organisations consistently deny Israeli allegations that they aid Hamas.
Do the new rules conflict with international humanitarian law?
The regulations raise serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law. As the occupying power, Israel is legally required to facilitate humanitarian assistance and protect civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to ensure adequate humanitarian access to Gaza. The new rules threaten to obstruct these obligations, forcing NGOs to comply with potentially illegal demands or forfeit their ability to operate.
What should NGOs do now to prepare?
SARI Global’s most likely scenario calls for engaging international legal counsel to assess compliance risks and protect staff data, building continuity plans such as remote programming and partnerships with local NGOs, and setting security protocols for Palestinian staff whose data may be shared. Organisations should also pursue coordinated diplomatic advocacy for exemptions and give staff briefings and mental health support.
What would signal that the worst-case scenario is unfolding?
SARI Global identifies five worst-case triggers: mass rejection of NGO re-registration applications; targeted deportations or detentions of NGO staff; direct Israeli military or police actions against NGO offices or personnel; a formal Israeli government statement or legislation ending foreign NGO access to the Palestinian territories; and escalation of aid denial, including blockade on essential goods, in parallel with NGO deregistration.
All data and information presented in this report are either primarily sourced through SARI Global’s proprietary resources or secondarily obtained through the referenced entities cited within the report. Live incident data for the occupied Palestinian territories is on the STRAT-i Palestine dashboard.
Any use, reproduction or derivation of the information or data from this report is subject to copyright by SARI Global. Proper attribution must be provided by referencing SARI Global by name and including a direct link to the report or the SARI Global website, along with the date the data was accessed. For example: SARI Global, www.sari.global, date retrieved: MM, DD, YYYY. For further information or permissions, contact info@sari.global.
SARI Global (2025). Implementation of New Israeli NGO Registration and Visa Regulations. SARI Global Analysis, 16 March 2025. https://sari.global/israeli-ngo-registration-rules/
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In the occupied Palestinian territories, our analysts track access constraints, the operating environment for humanitarian organisations and security incidents in Gaza and the West Bank. This report draws on that work.
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