Israeli authorities have banned issuing new visas and renewing existing ones for foreign workers in senior roles within international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This decision has caused concern among aid workers, especially those in the Palestinian territories.
At the beginning of March, amid the ongoing visa suspension, Israel intensified its scrutiny of the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. Israeli authorities claimed that 450 of the agency’s employees in the Gaza Strip have ties to militant groups. However, Israel has not produced evidence to substantiate these claims, VisaGuide.World reports.
Since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, 2023, a total of 57 aid workers have had their visas expire, with another 42 expected to expire as well, according to Faris Arouri, director of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA).
We see this visa ban as part of the collective punishment that the Palestinians have been facing since October 7.
Aid Worker Requests for 50 Visas Remain Unresolved
Arouri also revealed that about 50 visa requests for staff to help with the response have stalled without progress. He emphasized the situation’s urgency, stating, “the total is close to 150 positions that we urgently need for two months, not tomorrow.”
As local media reported, while the UN, which coordinates visa applications through the foreign ministry, has managed to secure some visas, there are currently 67 pending applications awaiting approval.
The tension over visas for foreign workers intensified in December 2023 when Lynn Hastings, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, was forced to leave Israel. The move followed the revocation of Hastings’ residency visa by Eli Cohen, the Israeli foreign minister.
Someone who did not condemn Hamas for the brutal massacre of 1,200 Israelis, for the kidnapping of babies and the elderly and for the horrific acts of abuse and rape, and for using the residents of Gaza as human shields, but instead condemns Israel, a democratic country that protects its citizens, cannot serve in the UN and cannot enter Israel.
In response to the visa ban and broader criticism of the UN agency, AIDA has called on the Israeli government to resume visa processing immediately.
AIDA, a coalition representing 80 aid organizations, including prominent entities such as Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Save the Children, highlighted the critical role of international aid workers in addressing humanitarian needs in the region.