Israel suspended 37 well-known humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, the International Rescue Committee, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), as of January 1. A disagreement over new staff vetting regulations led to the action. The agencies claimed that the regulations were arbitrary and dangerous for their employees, while Israel asserted that these groups did not adhere to security requirements.

COGAT, the Israeli defence organisation, downplayed the significance, claiming that these organisations contributedless than 1% of Gaza's overall aid. They said that supplies would still be delivered by other approved companies. However, many experts were concerned that eliminating these established partners would result in significant gaps in emergency shelter and specialised medical care.

In contrast, the suspended organisations warned that the new regulations were unjust and endangered their employees. They contended that their influence extended well beyond "1%," since they offered clean water, emergency shelter, and specialised medical care that were difficult to replace. Many of these organisations had been saving lives in the area for decades, but they were then forced to stop.

The humanitarian response during the coldest part of the year was severely limited by this action. Millions of people are still unsure of where their next meal or medical care would come from, despite Israel's insistence that aid would continue.