The Quebec branch of the international humanitarian organization Oxfam says it was taken aback to discover it is on a list of nearly 40 aid groups that Israel will block from operating in the Gaza Strip. The ban, which took effect on January 1, 2026, targets organizations that Israel says have not complied with stricter registration requirements announced in March.
New Rules and Surprise Inclusion
Israel's new regulations demand that aid groups provide a complete list of their employees for government review. Oxfam-Québec stated it was surprised by its inclusion, suggesting it may be due to an outdated registration from 2020. The organization clarified that it is now legally represented by a single registered entity in the region, making the old registration invalid.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Oxfam-Québec General Director Béatrice Vaugrante emphasized the critical timing of the decision. "As a particularly harsh winter hits Palestine, we reiterate that unimpeded and needs-based access to humanitarian aid is part of the ceasefire agreement and is urgently needed," she said.
International Condemnation and Stakes for Gaza
The move has drawn sharp criticism from Canada and several allied nations. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom called on Israel to ensure these organizations can operate predictably. They warned that deregistration could force closures within 60 days, causing a "severe" impact on essential services like healthcare.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is among the other major groups facing exclusion. Sana Bég, Executive Director of MSF Canada, stated the organization is trying to comply but refuses to provide a full staff list, citing violations of international humanitarian law and security risks for employees.
Bég framed the potential consequences in stark terms: "Let’s not call it deregistration, let’s call it a death sentence — that is exactly what it would be for the Palestinian people." She highlighted MSF's massive role in Gaza, including 800,000 outpatient consultations and care for over 100,000 trauma patients in the past year alone.
Israel's Justification and Rebuttal
The Israeli government defends the stricter rules as a necessary security measure. A spokesperson for the Israeli Consulate General in Montreal stated the requirement aims to "prevent the involvement of terrorist elements and safeguard the integrity of humanitarian activity." They claimed organizations had 10 months to comply, with some receiving extensions, and that only one per cent of humanitarian measures are affected.
The office also pointed to Israeli agency statements alleging some aid groups have exaggerated their role in Gaza, and asserted that 4,200 aid trucks weekly will continue to enter via the UN, donor countries, and other approved organizations.
Despite these assurances, aid organizations and the coalition of nations argue that barring established groups like Oxfam and MSF will drastically reduce the capacity to deliver life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in desperate need.
