Israel’s Ban on 37 Humanitarian Aid Group Goes Into Effect March 1
February 2, 2026—The Gaza-Egypt border reopened today after a year of being closed by the Israeli government. Although strict controls remain in place, the Rafah border crossing is open to foot traffic. The United Nations reported that Israel will allow 50 Palestinians to enter and exit Gaza each day, but only on foot. Furthermore, Egypt and the European Union will be involved in supervising the crossing.
Observers have mixed reactions about what it means. Ali Shaath, a technocrat appointed as chair of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, called it a “window of hope.” However, Israeli airstrikes that killed 30 people in a displacement camp dampened hopes of others.
“We’re seeing really competing dynamics here: on the one hand, positive progress with the reopening of Rafah, yet over the past 24 hours, 30 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes during a ceasefire,” UNRWA’s acting director Sam Rose said in an interview with BBC News.
Muhammad Shehada, a political analyst in Gaza and a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, outlined some of the concerns by locals, saying the reopening is more symbolic than meaningful.
Israel Bans 37 Aid Groups
Furthermore, the Israeli government has banned 37 humanitarian organizations from operating in Gaza, effective March 1. They include well-known names, such as the Campaign for the Children of Palestine, CARE, Doctors Without Borders, the International Rescue Committee, Medical Aid for Palestinians (UK), Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Defense for Children International, Catholic Relief Services, and World Vision International.
Israel Destroys Water Source
Also raising fears is ongoing destruction of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces. Today, Israeli troops detonated the Morag Water Station, a facility that once provided water to roughly a third of the residents in Gaza, Palestinian Journalist Younis Tirawi reported.
