Dozens of international organisations barred by Israel: AOI, CINI, LINK 2007 and the Piattaforma Mediterraneo e Medio Oriente address MAECI and AICS
31/12/2025
The Italian civil society networks AOI – Association of Italian NGOs, CINI – Italian Coordination of International NGOs, LINK 2007 – Cooperazione in Rete, and the Middle East and Piattaforma Mediterraneo e Medio Oriente have sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) to denounce the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government on the operations of international NGOs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
According to available information and official statements issued by Israeli authorities, dozens of international non-governmental organisations have already had their registration denied or not renewed. The number is expected to increase, as reflected in further recent rejection decisions.
These include leading humanitarian NGOs that have been active for decades in sectors such as health, protection, education, food assistance, and water and sanitation. Many of these organisations operate in direct partnership with Italian organisations and within programmes funded by AICS and other European institutional donors.
The signatory networks denounce the new Israeli regulatory framework governing the registration of international NGOs as inequitable, disproportionate and highly discretionary, allowing organisations to be excluded on the basis of vague and non-verifiable criteria.
Particular concern arises from a recent statement by the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, which frames humanitarian action as a potential cover for terrorist activities, thereby delegitimising the entire humanitarian sector through serious allegations made outside independent judicial processes.
Such an approach seriously undermines the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence of humanitarian action, and risks further compromising access to aid for a population already affected by an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The Israeli restrictions have a direct impact on Italian development cooperation. Numerous Italian NGOs funded by AICS operate in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in partnership with international NGOs that are now excluded or suspended.
This results in:
- operational disruptions and project delays;
- risks of contractual non-compliance;
- inability to reach certain areas or communities; and
- a concrete weakening of the effectiveness of interventions funded with Italian public resources.
Without decisive political and diplomatic action, there is a real risk that already allocated resources may not be used in line with their intended purposes, with serious consequences for beneficiary populations.
In their letter to MAECI and AICS, the civil society networks call on the Italian Government to:
- formally request that Israel immediately suspend the measures adopted against international NGOs;
- defend the full respect of humanitarian operations, rejecting any undue conflation of humanitarian action with terrorism, so that populations can receive the assistance they urgently need;
- safeguard the effectiveness of interventions funded by Italian development cooperation; and
- take action at the European and multilateral level to protect humanitarian space in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
As the occupying power, Israel is obliged under International Humanitarian Law, and in particular under the Fourth Geneva Convention, to facilitate – and not hinder – humanitarian access. These obligations have also been reaffirmed by recent rulings of the International Court of Justice and by the United Nations.
“This is not a series of isolated cases, but a systematic policy of restricting humanitarian space. Preventing dozens of international NGOs from operating means directly undermining civilians’ right to receive life-saving assistance and compromising international cooperation efforts, including those of Italy. The entire international humanitarian aid system is at risk,” declared AOI, CINI, LINK 2007 and the Piattaforma Mediterraneo e Medio Oriente.