Humanitarian workers face deportation from Israel after freeze on visas

Dozens of foreign staff have had to leave and new specialists can’t be brought in, says group representing aid agencies

Israel has stopped issuing visas for international staff of humanitarian organisations that work in occupied Palestinian territories, hampering efforts to get food and other vital supplies into Gaza.

Dozens of foreign aid workers, including heads of organisations, have had to leave Israel and the Palestinian territories, or are overstaying their visas and risking deportation so they can continue working, an alliance of aid groups has warned.