Oxfam has announced its refusal to disclose personal details of its Palestinian staff to Israel, citing the deadly attacks on aid workers in Gaza that have resulted in over 500 fatalities since October 7, 2023. This decision comes as Israel intensifies its crackdown on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) providing essential assistance to Palestinians, demanding extensive information from charities operating in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
In January 2024, Israel revoked the licenses of 37 aid organizations, including well-established entities such as the Norwegian Refugee Council and the International Rescue Committee. The Israeli government asserted that these organizations failed to comply with newly instituted “security and transparency standards.” Oxfam has firmly stated that it will not share sensitive data about its employees, emphasizing that doing so would violate humanitarian principles, including data protection obligations. A spokesperson for Oxfam remarked, “We will not transfer sensitive personal data to a party to the conflict since this would breach humanitarian principles, duty of care and data protection obligations.”
The situation has sparked significant concern among humanitarian organizations. Oxfam has called on the Israeli government to cease its deregistration efforts and to remove barriers that impede humanitarian assistance. It has also urged donor governments to leverage their influence to reverse these measures.
According to guidelines issued by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, the information required from NGOs includes passport copies, resumes, and the names of family members, even extending to children. The Israeli authorities have indicated they will dismiss organizations suspected of inciting racism or supporting violence against the state. Reports indicate that 23 organizations have complied with these new registration requirements, while others, including Oxfam, have either refused or are still considering their options.
The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) has condemned the compliance of certain organizations, warning that it poses a direct threat to the safety and security of local staff. The PNGO stated that Israel’s demands clearly violate international humanitarian law and established standards of humanitarian work.
On January 6, 2024, Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French initials MSF, expressed a willingness to provide a limited list of Palestinian and international staff names to Israel, contingent upon parameters that prioritize staff safety. Despite this, MSF acknowledged the unreasonable nature of the demands, prompting backlash from various stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and activists. A former MSF employee, wishing to remain anonymous, expressed grave concern, stating, “MSF faces profoundly difficult decisions – concede to the demands of a genocidal regime, or refuse and face complete expulsion.”
The International Rescue Committee, another organization affected by Israel’s actions, reported that Palestinians constitute nearly one-fifth of all aid workers killed since records began. This disturbing statistic highlights the escalating dangers faced by humanitarian workers in the region, raising critical questions about the future of aid delivery in Gaza.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community remains watchful of the implications for humanitarian efforts and the ongoing plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
