When Israel demanded that major aid organizations hand over detailed personal information about their Palestinian employees last year, Oxfam drew a line. The UK-founded charity said no — it would not disclose names, passport copies, family details, or any identifying information about its staff to any party in the conflict, no matter the consequences.
The refusal matters because the stakes are concrete and immediate. Since October 7, 2023, more than 500 humanitarian workers have been killed across Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. For Palestinian aid workers especially, having their names, addresses, and family information registered with a military authority represents a genuine safety risk. Oxfam's position is straightforward: sharing that data would breach humanitarian principles, duty of care, and data protection law.
Israel's demands came as part of a broader crackdown on NGOs operating in Palestinian territories. Last year, the government withdrew licenses from 37 aid organizations—including the Norwegian Refugee Council, International Rescue Committee, and Oxfam—after they refused to meet new "security and transparency standards." The required disclosure includes passport copies, resumes, and names of family members, including children.
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Start Your News DetoxThe Israeli government has framed these measures as security vetting, saying it will reject organizations it suspects of inciting racism, denying Israel's existence, or supporting armed groups. But the humanitarian sector sees it differently. The Palestinian NGOs Network condemned organizations that comply, calling the demands a "clear violation" of international humanitarian law and a "direct threat" to local staff safety.
Not all organizations have refused. Doctors Without Borders said it would share "a defined list of Palestinian and international staff names, subject to clear parameters with staff safety at its core"—a compromise that has drawn criticism from doctors and activists who worry it still endangers Palestinians. The International Rescue Committee, also deregistered, is reportedly still weighing the decision. The organization has noted that Palestinians make up almost a fifth of all aid workers killed in recorded history.
Oxfam's refusal to comply puts the organization in legal and operational limbo in territories where its work is needed most. But the charity has called on donor governments to use their leverage to pressure Israel to lift the deregistration and remove obstacles to humanitarian assistance. The tension between security demands and staff protection remains unresolved—a test of whether humanitarian principles hold when governments demand access to vulnerable populations.
