Oxfam has announced it will not provide Israel with the personal details of its Palestinian staff in Gaza, citing the life-threatening context of recent violence in the region. The organization’s decision comes in response to Israel’s demands for detailed information about aid workers, which Oxfam believes undermines humanitarian principles and endangers its employees.
Last year, Israel initiated a crackdown on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supplying essential aid to Palestinians. The Israeli government mandated that prominent charities operating in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem submit extensive data about their operations and staff. This included requests for sensitive information such as passport copies, resumes, and even the names of family members.
In a significant move, on January 1, 2024, Israel revoked the licenses of 37 aid organizations, including Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and the International Rescue Committee. The Israeli government justified this action by claiming that the organizations failed to comply with newly established “security and transparency standards.”
Oxfam has publicly rejected these demands, stating, “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,” according to a spokesperson from the organization. The spokesperson highlighted the grave situation by noting that more than 500 humanitarian workers have been killed since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023.
The organization’s stance is part of a broader appeal to the Israeli government, urging it to cease its deregistration efforts and to remove barriers that hinder humanitarian assistance. Oxfam also called on international donor governments to leverage their influence to reverse these actions.
The demands placed on aid organizations extend beyond operational information. According to guidelines from Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, organizations are required to comply with stringent criteria, including rejecting any group suspected of inciting racism or supporting violence against the state of Israel. Israel claims that 23 organizations have accepted these new registration rules, while others, like Oxfam, have chosen not to comply.
The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) has condemned those organizations that have acquiesced to Israel’s demands, stating that such compliance threatens the safety and security of local staff. “PNGO underscores the grave risks inherent in this measure, which constitutes a clear violation of the principles of international humanitarian law and established humanitarian work standards,” the network remarked.
On January 6, 2024, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) indicated a willingness to share a “defined list” of names of both Palestinian and international staff, but only under strict conditions to ensure staff safety. Despite this, the organization acknowledged that the demands were “unreasonable.” This decision received backlash from various stakeholders, including doctors and activists, who expressed concerns about the potential ramifications for aid workers in Gaza.
A former MSF employee, speaking anonymously, expressed deep worry about the organization’s decision, stating, “MSF faces profoundly difficult decisions—concede to the demands of a genocidal regime, or refuse and face complete expulsion and an abrupt end to all health activities in the coming weeks.” This individual emphasized the necessity for alternative approaches to humanitarian work amidst ongoing violence and political instability.
The International Rescue Committee, also among the organizations facing new requirements, has not yet made a definitive decision regarding its compliance. The organization noted that Palestinians account for nearly a fifth of all aid workers killed since record-keeping began.
As humanitarian organizations navigate these challenging waters, the implications of their choices remain critical for the welfare of those they aim to help, particularly in a region where the need for aid has never been more pressing.
