British charities, Palestinian advocacy organisations and the proscribed Palestine Action group have condemned an Israeli government proposal to bar representatives and activists linked to several UK-based organisations from entering Israel.
The proposal is contained in a letter dated September 8 and issued by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. The document recommends that Israeli border authorities prevent employees and activists associated with organisations including Oxfam, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Save the Children, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of Al-Aqsa from entering the country.
The letter came on the same day the UK announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Ismail Patel, founder of Friends of Al-Aqsa, said the proposed restrictions would not deter his organisation from supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Israel had previously warned the UK of possible “consequences” over its sanctions against Israeli settlements. Following the announcement, Israel barred 11 British MPs and a lawyer from entering the country, ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and ended British training of Palestinian Authority forces in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli letter makes allegations against 11 organisations, including claims that some support engagement with Hamas, advocate an arms embargo against Israel, or have links to organisations Israel considers terrorist groups.
Save the Children has also been accused of describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “deliberate starvation” and “genocide”. The charity said it and other international NGOs were already facing difficulties obtaining visas for staff working across Israeli-controlled areas.
Medical Aid for Palestinians said the letter was part of broader restrictions affecting international charities operating in the occupied Palestinian territories. The organisation also noted that two individuals named in the Israeli document had received humanitarian medals from King Charles.
Palestine Action, which has carried out direct-action campaigns against Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems, rejected the Israeli government's characterisation of the group and said its activities had focused on the Israeli defence industry.
Meanwhile, UK Lawyers for Israel has reportedly called on the British government to consider proscribing Doctors Without Borders (MSF) as a terrorist organisation, alleging that some of its employees had links to Palestinian armed groups.
MSF rejected the allegations, saying it had been subjected to what it described as a prolonged “disinformation campaign”. The organisation said Israeli authorities had not provided evidence of military involvement by staff accused of links to armed groups before their deaths.
The Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism had not responded to Al Jazeera’s request for comment at the time of publication.
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