Israeli ministry letter recommends barring staff of Oxfam, Save the Children, MAP from entry after UK settlement trade ban

The letter is dated September 8, 2026, the same day the United Kingdom banned imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

It was issued by Israel's Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, seen by Al Jazeera, and recommends that Israeli border authorities bar employees and activists tied to Oxfam, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Save the Children, Medical Aid for Palestinians, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, along with campaign groups Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of Al-Aqsa. In total the document makes accusations against 11 organizations, according to Al Jazeera's reporting. The letter's existence was previously reported by the BBC and the Jerusalem Post.

"In light of this, attention should be directed to the ongoing and subversive activities of various British organisations promoting boycotts, sanctions, and economic and political measures against the State of Israel," the letter reads.

The accusations vary by group. Save the Children is cited for describing Israel's conduct as "deliberate starvation" and "genocide." Friends of Al-Aqsa founder Ismail Patel is accused of joining demonstrations in London and making "harsh statements against Israel." Palestine Action, the proscribed group known for direct-action raids on Elbit Systems facilities, is described in the letter as a "network of radical branches promoting direct action intended to damage the Israeli defence industry."

Patel told Al Jazeera the threat proves the boycott campaign is having an effect: "To hear Israel is planning to ban Friends of Al-Aqsa for our BDS campaign clearly shows BDS is working and impacting Israel. Israeli restrictions will not intimidate us." Palestine Action cofounder Huda Ammori said the letter undercuts the UK government's own rationale for proscribing her group: "This letter is further proof that we were not banned because of anything to do with 'terrorism.' As the letter admits, our activity was always focused on damaging the Israeli defence industry."

Medical Aid for Palestinians said two of its named staff had previously received humanitarian medals from King Charles. A Save the Children spokesperson said the organization is already unable to secure visas for staff crossing Israeli-controlled borders into Gaza or the West Bank "at a time when needs have never been greater."

The letter followed explicit warnings. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had told the UK it would face "consequences" for what it called "hostile moves" over the settlement trade ban. Since the ban was announced, Israel has barred 11 British MPs and a lawyer from entry, ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, removed British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, and ended British training of Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank.

Separately, UK Lawyers for Israel has urged the British government to consider proscribing Doctors Without Borders as a terrorist organization, according to a Telegraph report cited by Al Jazeera, alleging the group employed people with ties to Palestinian armed groups. MSF said it has been the target of a months-long "disinformation campaign" and that staff Israel accused of "ties to terrorism" were only named to the organization after they had already been killed, without prior evidence shared by Israeli authorities. Israel's Diaspora Affairs Ministry did not respond to Al Jazeera's request for comment.