In What World is this Humane?
Statement by 18 Israel-Based Human Rights Organizations
We, the undersigned Israel-based human rights organizations united under The Platform, strongly condemn Israel’s decision to deregister international humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory. At a time of critical need in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, these measures further restrict access to life-saving assistance.
In parallel with, and as part of, Israel’s assault on the people of Gaza, humanitarian access has been severely constrained since October2023. Despite the ceasefire, essential aid—including food, medicine, shelter, and hygiene items—continues to be delayed or denied. The deregistration of 37 INGOs undermines principled humanitarian action, endangers staff and communities, and compromises effective aid delivery. In the West Bank, as Israeli military, institutional, and settler violence reach unprecedented levels, NGOs play a crucial role in supporting the most vulnerable communities. International humanitarian organizations are essential to reaching those most in need, supporting local partners, and ensuring accountability and transparency; blocking their work puts lives at risk.
Israel, as the occupying power, has an obligation to ensure adequate supplies to Palestinian civilians. Not only is it failing to fulfil that obligation, but it is also preventing others from filling the gap.
The new registration framework violates core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality. Conditioning aid on political alignment, penalizing support for legal accountability, and requiring the disclosure of sensitive personal data of Palestinian staff and their families all constitute a breach of duty of care and expose workers to surveillance and harm. This weaponization of bureaucracy institutionalizes barriers to aid and forces vital organizations to suspend operations.
Ensuring access to humanitarian aid is a legal obligation, not a discretionary choice. We call on the Government of Israel to immediately halt deregistration proceedings, remove barriers to humanitarian and human rights action, and allow international organizations to operate safely and effectively. We also urge governments and the international community to act urgently to protect the independence of humanitarian organizations and ensure aid reaches those who need it most.
Signed: Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Akevot Institute for Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Research, Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B’Tselem, Bimkom – Planning and Human Rights, Breaking the Silence, Combatants for Peace, Emek Shaveh, Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Haqel: In Defense of Human Rights, Ir Amim, Hamoked – Center for the Defense of the Individual, Human Rights Defenders Fund, Machsom Watch – Women against the Occupation and for Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Yesh Din, Zazim – Community Action
What a Great Way to Start 2026!
Turkish football clubs voiced support for an Istanbul rally set for Thursday to protest the ongoing massacre in Palestine, with several club leaders calling on supporters to join the event, Anadolu reports.
Galatasaray Chair Dursun Ozbek called what is happening in Gaza a “test of conscience for humanity.”
“We will not get used to this silence,” Ozbek said in a video message shared on US social media company X. “Standing shoulder to shoulder against oppression, we come together on the same side for humanity. On the morning of Jan. 1, we will be at Galata Bridge to be the voice of the oppressed.”
Trabzonspor Chairman Ertugrul Dogan also urged fans to participate, saying the event, organized by the National Will Platform, represents “a stance, not just a march.”
“They said ceasefire, but mornings in Gaza still begin with bombs,” Dogan said, referring to Israel’s repeated violations of the Oct. 10 ceasefire. “The Trabzonspor community stands with the oppressed against oppression.”
In a video message, Besiktas Chair Serdar Adali echoed the call, saying “the bloodshed and tears in Palestine have not stopped,” and urging unity in opposition to the violence.
Other Turkish Super Lig clubs, including Fenerbahce, Basaksehir, Konyaspor, Kayserispor, and Gaziantep FK, issued statements on social media expressing support for the rally and calling on the public to take part.
The event is scheduled to start at 8.30 am local time (0530GMT) on Thursday at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge.
Earlier, a joint platform of civil society groups held a news conference at the headquarters of the Turkish Youth Foundation (TUGVA), where the chairs of Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce board member Ertan Torunogulları expressed their support for the march.
During the news conference, Bilal Erdogan, chair of the Ilim Yayma Foundation’s board of trustees and a member of TUGVA’s High Advisory Board, emphasized that more than 70,000 civilians and at least 20,000 children have been killed in the Gaza genocide since October 2023.
Several other sports clubs also called for support for the march.
Since the Oct. 10 ceasefire deal that halted the two-year Israeli war, at least 414 people have been killed and over 1,100 others injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
