Israel to ban humanitarian group in Gaza that fail to comply with new registration requirements

Israel says it has suspended over two dozen humanitarian groups from operating in the Gaza Strip for failing to comply with new registration rules.

Among the groups are Doctors Without Borders and CARE, according to the Associated Press. 

Israel says the rules are aimed at preventing Hamas and other militant groups from infiltrating the aid organizations. Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian-backed group that rules Gaza, have a cease-fire agreement to end their rough 26-month war and trying to make the deal more permanent and long term.

The humanitarian groups say the registration rules – which require them to register the names of their workers and provide details about funding and operation – are arbitrary. They also say the new ban would harm a civilian population that desperately needs humanitarian aid, the wire service also reports. 

Israel has claimed throughout the war that Hamas is taking some of the aid, was siphoning off aid supplies, a charge the United Nations and aid groups have denied.