The head of Oxfam-Quebec says the group was struck from the list of international non-profits allowed into Gaza because of an “administrative error,” and is accusing Israel of “politicizing humanitarian aid.”
The organization says all Oxfam chapters in occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank, operate under the name Oxfam Novid, which is also blocked from entering the war-torn enclave.
According to Béatrice Vaugrante, executive director of Oxfam-Quebec, the aid organization refused to submit a list of all its employees to the Israeli government “for security reasons, for duty of care, for this being against the humanitarian principle.”
Israel is set to revoke the licences of 37 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), saying they failed to meet registration requirements. These include several Doctors Without Borders chapters, ActionAid and the International Rescue Committee.
The government has said it wants to prevent Hamas from infiltrating humanitarian aid groups and diverting aid. It also wants to prevent organizations from participating in “terrorist activities” and activities that “delegitimize Israel.”
“We are very obviously cautious to let a party to the conflict really bridge humanitarian principle and policies and intervene in the way we deliver aid,” says Vaugrante. “It would set a precedent as well … does it mean that anywhere we go, sometimes aid can be politicized or conditional? That’s not the way it works.”
‘Arbitrary’ and ‘outrageous’: UN
The foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom denounced the move in a statement Tuesday.
“Deregistration could result in the forced closure of INGO operations within 60 days in Gaza and the West Bank. This would have a severe impact on access to essential services, including health care,” the statement reads.
“Any attempt to stem their ability to operate is unacceptable. Without them, it will be impossible to meet all urgent needs at the scale required.”
In a social media post, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the joint statement was “false but unsurprising” and “blatantly ignores the significant improvement” in the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
On Dec. 31, the United Nations’ human rights chief Volker Türk called the suspensions “arbitrary” and “outrageous.”
Vaugrante says the registration process is “unacceptable” and “goes against data protection and international regulations.”
‘Urgent’ support needed
Oxfam’s Quebec chapter operated in the area since the 1950s, but global chapters consolidated operations in the region in 2020, according to Vaugrante. Though Oxfam-Quebec was no longer registered, it remained in the files, she says.
Vaugrante says Oxfam is in talks with Israeli authorities to complete the registration process and allow its workers into Gaza to provide life-saving humanitarian aid.
She says the deregistration of INGOs would be devastating for Gaza’s civilian population, which is experiencing harsh winter climate amid widespread destruction.
The joint statement signed by Global Affairs Canada points out that Palestinians are facing “appalling conditions.”
“With heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping, 1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding,” the statement says.
Oxfam provides food, sanitation and hygiene services to ensure people can access clean water, showers, toilets and other hygienic products like menstrual products. It also provides water desalination and psychosocial support.
According to Vaugrante, INGOs provided 50 per cent of food aid and 60 per cent of field hospitals are operated by INGOs.
“So you can imagine the huge impact on the civilians if we were all banned from Gaza,” she says.
Vaugrante says dialogue to find alternatives with Israeli authorities, who approve which INGOs are allowed into the territory, has been difficult. She says some organizations were approved without providing a list of employees and that even if organizations comply, they can be blocked for “another vague reason.”
“More than 500 workers have been killed. So why should we give one party to the conflict very personal data on our staff? It puts more at risk,” says Vaugrante.
She stresses the situation is urgent and calls on donors, the public and the government to push for the 37 aid organizations to be allowed in Gaza.
