Oxfam Refuses to Share Staff Data with Israel Amid Gaza Crisis

Oxfam has announced that it will not provide Israel with personal information about its Palestinian staff in Gaza. This decision comes in response to ongoing military actions in the region, which have resulted in the deaths of over 500 humanitarian workers since October 7, 2023. Israel’s recent demands for detailed staff information from various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have raised significant ethical and safety concerns.

As part of a broader initiative to tighten control over NGOs delivering essential aid, Israel withdrew the licenses of 37 aid organizations, including Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council, on January 1, 2024. The Israeli government cited a failure to adhere to newly established security and transparency standards as the reason for this action. This crackdown has prompted major charities operating in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem to reconsider their operations and strategies.

Oxfam has firmly stated that sharing sensitive personal data would violate humanitarian principles and data protection obligations. An Oxfam spokesperson emphasized to Al Jazeera that they cannot transfer sensitive data to one of the parties involved in the conflict. “More than 500 humanitarian workers have been killed since October 7, 2023,” the spokesperson noted. They further called upon the Israeli government to halt the deregistration of aid organizations and to lift measures obstructing humanitarian assistance.

Under the directives from Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, NGOs are required to submit comprehensive information, including passport copies, resumes, and the names of family members of their staff. The ministry specified that organizations suspected of inciting racism or denying Israel’s existence would face scrutiny and potential rejection of their applications for operating licenses.

While Israel claims that 23 organizations have accepted the new registration requirements, several others, including Oxfam, are resisting. The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) condemned the compliance of some organizations, stating that it poses direct threats to the safety of local staff and constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), another prominent aid organization, indicated it might share a “defined list” of staff names with Israel, contingent upon parameters that prioritize staff safety. Despite this willingness, MSF’s decision has faced significant backlash from healthcare professionals and activists, who argue that such actions could endanger Palestinian lives, given the ongoing targeting of aid workers in Gaza.

A former MSF employee, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed deep concern over the organization’s decision-making process amid the crisis. “MSF faces profoundly difficult decisions – concede to the demands of a genocidal regime, or refuse and face complete expulsion,” the individual remarked. This sentiment reflects a broader debate within humanitarian circles regarding the balance between operational viability and adherence to humanitarian principles.

As discussions continue regarding the fate of aid organizations in the region, the International Rescue Committee, also among the 37 groups affected, noted that Palestinians represent almost one-fifth of all aid workers killed since records began. The unfolding situation raises critical questions about the future of humanitarian aid in Gaza and the responsibilities of international organizations in conflict zones.