NRC: We’ll continue to work in Gaza despite Israeli obstructions

Key Concepts

• Banned Organizations: 37 organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), banned by Israel from operating in Gaza.
• Registration & Authorization: Israel’s use of registration and authorization processes as obstacles to aid delivery.
• Humanitarian Access: Severe restrictions on the entry of aid, personnel, and essential supplies into Gaza.
• Shelter Crisis: Widespread destruction of housing and critical need for emergency shelter, materials, and heavy machinery.
• Food Insecurity: Widespread hunger and malnutrition, with a significant portion of the population relying on only one meal per day.
• Ceasefire Violations: Continued bombardments and violence despite the ceasefire agreement.
• International Law Obligations: Israel’s legal obligations to facilitate impartial humanitarian relief as outlined by the International Court of Justice.

The Impact of the Ban and Restrictions on Humanitarian Operations in Gaza

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is one of 37 organizations recently banned by Israel from operating in Gaza, due to alleged non-compliance with new rules requiring the disclosure of employee personal information, ostensibly to prevent infiltration by Hamas. Shaina Low, representing the NRC, clarifies that the ban, manifested as an expiration of their registration, provides a 60-day wind-down period, but is part of a pattern of obstruction. Despite this, the NRC intends to continue operations “as much and as long as we can,” with committed teams throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. However, a primary immediate impact is the inability of international aid workers to enter Gaza to support local staff.

Aid Delivery Obstacles and Historical Context

The NRC has been blocked from directly bringing aid into Gaza for over 10 months, even after the recent ceasefire agreement came into effect approximately three months prior. The organization faced 17 rejections for aid deliveries since October 10th, with 16 explicitly citing a lack of “authorization” despite valid registration. One rejection was simply labeled “reject.” This demonstrates, according to Low, that the registration process is being used as a pretext to prevent aid from reaching those in need. The NRC has been providing assistance to over 100,000 people daily with clean drinking water, operating temporary learning spaces for children deprived of education for two years, and leading the shelter response in coordination with other NGOs within the UN shelter cluster.

The Escalating Shelter Crisis and Urgent Needs

The current situation is particularly dire due to the onset of winter and the rainy season. A critical need is shelter, with 1.3 million people – approximately 80% of the population – in need of emergency shelter following the destruction of a vast majority of Gaza’s buildings and housing units. Essential supplies like tents, tarpaulins, timber, and framing materials have been barred from entry for years. Furthermore, heavy machinery is needed for rubble clearance, drainage channel construction (Gaza is prone to flooding due to its low elevation and proximity to the sea), and waste management. The lack of these resources is contributing to deaths from exposure and structural collapses as people seek shelter in unsafe buildings. Low reports several infant deaths due to exposure this winter alone, mirroring similar tragedies from the previous year. She also criticizes the quality of some donated materials, noting that they are often unsuitable for Gaza’s harsh winter conditions and require additional reinforcement.

Ongoing Violence and Ceasefire Violations

Despite operating in the western part of Gaza following the ceasefire agreement requiring Israeli military withdrawal to the east, the NRC continues to witness nearly daily violations of the ceasefire. Bombardments are still occurring, resulting in civilian casualties both near the “yellow line” demarcating the Israeli withdrawal zone and within areas where Israel was supposed to have withdrawn. This ongoing violence further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.

Food Insecurity and the Role of Humanitarian Aid

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that approximately one in four families in Gaza relies on only one meal per day. While there has been a slight increase in commercial truck traffic, most people lack the income to afford the available food. The NRC is attempting to address this by supporting local bakeries in Gaza City, subsidizing the cost of bread. Low argues that instead of restricting organizations like the NRC, Israel should allow them to scale up their operations, as the needs remain immense. She emphasizes the continuous obstruction faced over the past two years, despite appeals from the UN, the international NGO community, and diplomats.

International Law and Calls for Increased Pressure

Low concludes by stressing Israel’s legal obligation under international law to facilitate impartial humanitarian relief, a point clearly articulated by the International Court of Justice in October. She asserts that fulfilling this obligation is not optional and calls for increased international pressure on Israel to lift restrictions and allow humanitarian organizations to effectively respond to the crisis.

As stated by Shaina Low, “This as as Clare said is not optional. This is their requirement. The International Court of Justice was very clear back in October with what Israel's obligations were, and that was to allow us to continue to work.”