Israel to impose strict rules on non-governmental organizations in Gaza

American Friends Service Committee Faces Potential Ban from Israeli Government

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization with over 77 years of presence in Gaza, is facing the threat of a ban from the Israeli government. The UN had initially requested AFSC’s assistance in organizing relief efforts for Palestinian refugees expelled from their land by Zionist forces in 1948.

Since then, AFSC has established and operated 10 refugee camps across Gaza, providing food, shelter, sanitation, educational programs, and other essential services. In recent years, the organization has expanded its programs to include agricultural development, kindergartens, midwife training, humanitarian aid, and trauma healing.

In response to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, which began in 2023, AFSC staff have provided over a million meals, food parcels, fresh vegetables, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies. However, the organization is now at risk of being banned by the Israeli government, which would put its lifesaving humanitarian work in jeopardy.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with ongoing raids, air strikes, and demolitions resulting in over 420 Palestinian deaths and 1,150 injuries since the ceasefire began on October 10. The lack of access to medicines and proper healthcare has also claimed the lives of approximately 600 kidney disease patients due to a lack of treatment.

The Israeli government’s restrictive policies, including new registration requirements and efforts to limit international aid, aim to depopulate Gaza and annex the land. These actions have silenced independent humanitarian voices and dismantled humanitarian infrastructure, making life in Gaza increasingly difficult.

For one staff member, the experience of losing nine family members, including two siblings, their spouses, and children, has heightened their sense of responsibility to remember, care for those left behind, and bear witness to what has been done. The individual emphasizes that this responsibility belongs not only to them but also to every nation, institution, and individual who has failed to act in the face of humanitarian crises like Gaza’s.

Source: Al Jazeera