The State has confirmed that it is requiring the submission of extensive personal data for all staff in Gaza and the West Bank, regardless of any connection to entry into Israel. In a context where hundreds of humanitarian workers have been killed, the compelled transfer of sensitive data without clear safeguards, transparency, or limitations on use creates real risks. It would also breach international data protection standards and the legal obligations of many organizations based in the European Union. This places petitioning organizations in an impossible position, as compliance with these requirements would violate their legal obligations and duty of care, while non-compliance would likely result in the rejection of their petition.
Petitioning organizations stress that they are committed to doing everything in their power to ensure they can continue to operate in the oPt and continue delivering assistance under Palestinian Authority registration, but they fear that the loss of Israeli registration will further hinder their ability to operate across the territory at a time when humanitarian needs remain overwhelming. INGOs are integral to the response. In Gaza they deliver more than half of all food assistance, support most field hospitals, and provide essential shelter, water, sanitation, nutrition, mine action, and emergency education services. Even while organisations held valid registration, INGOs were blocked from bringing goods into Gaza for over a year and, during the interim period, had requests to deploy international staff into the Strip denied. Any further reduction in operational access would have predictable and even more devastating consequences for civilians.
