Oxfam has announced that it will not provide the personal details of its Palestinian staff to Israel, citing the ongoing violence in Gaza that has resulted in over 500 humanitarian workers being killed since October 7, 2023. This decision comes as part of a broader Israeli crackdown on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the region. Israel has mandated that several prominent charities, including Oxfam, comply with new “security and transparency standards,” which involve disclosing sensitive employee information.
In early January, Israel withdrew the licenses of 37 aid organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and the International Rescue Committee, for failing to meet its requirements. These demands include providing passport copies, resumes, and even the names of family members of staff, raising significant concerns about the safety and privacy of those involved in humanitarian work.
Oxfam has firmly stated that sharing such sensitive information would breach humanitarian principles, duty of care, and data protection obligations. An Oxfam spokesperson emphasized the organization’s commitment to safeguarding its employees: “We will not transfer sensitive personal data to a party to the conflict,” they told Al Jazeera.
Concerns Over Safety and Humanitarian Access
The situation has elicited strong responses from various humanitarian organizations. The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) condemned those NGOs that have complied with Israeli demands, warning that such actions could jeopardize the safety of local staff and constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. PNGO stated that adhering to these orders poses a “direct threat” to humanitarian efforts.
On the other hand, Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, indicated it might share a limited list of names under strict conditions focused on staff safety. MSF acknowledged the unreasonable nature of Israel’s requests but is grappling with the dilemma of maintaining operations in a hostile environment. A former MSF employee expressed deep concern over the organization’s willingness to comply, stating, “There must be alternatives—options that demand a much bolder and more disruptive approach to humanitarianism amid such brutal political decline.”
Impact on Humanitarian Efforts
The Israeli government claims that 23 organizations have agreed to the new registration rules, while others are still contemplating their positions. The International Rescue Committee, one of the affected groups, reports that nearly one in five aid workers killed since records began are Palestinians. This statistic underscores the dire circumstances faced by humanitarian personnel working in the region.
Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs has stated that it will reject organizations suspected of fostering racism or denying the state of Israel’s existence. Such sweeping measures have raised alarms within the international community regarding the future of humanitarian assistance in areas already beset by conflict.
As NGOs continue to navigate this precarious landscape, the need for robust protection mechanisms for aid workers becomes increasingly urgent. The situation remains dynamic, with humanitarian organizations weighing their ethical obligations against operational realities in a conflict that has already claimed countless lives.
