Is Oxfam Banned From Gaza Because of Scarlett Johansson?

Could Israel still bitter about Oxfam’s treatment of it’s previous humanitarian ambassador, Scarlett Johansson, whom the non-profit organization criticized earlier this year for her endorsement deal with SodaStream, an Israeli company promoting at home carbonated beverage machines? Since the incident, it appears that Israeli occupation authorities have been delaying Oxfam’s permits to enter Gaza.

According to an unnamed source who spoke with The Electronic Intifada, this “is the first time ever that Oxfam staff are getting a blanket refusal… all of them used to get permits on time before and it all started happening since Scarlett.”

However, while there have been some permits that have been granted, most of Oxfam’s applications have been met with lengthy delays with no real explanation.

The source continued, “Of course no Israeli authority would ever confirm that is the reason but the word inside Oxfam is that it is.”

On January 30th, 2014, Oxfam released a statement regarding Scarlet Johansson’s position as the charity’s Humanitarian Ambassador:

“Oxfam has accepted Scarlett Johansson’s decision to step down after eight years as a Global Ambassador and we are grateful for her many contributions,” the statement, which can be found on Oxfam’s website, reads, “While Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors, Ms. Johansson’s role promoting the company SodaStream is incompatible with her role as an Oxfam Global Ambassador.”

“Oxfam believes that businesses, such as SodaStream, that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support,” the statement continues, not before adding,

“Oxfam is opposed to all trade from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law. Ms. Johansson has worked with Oxfam since 2005 and in 2007 became a Global Ambassador, helping to highlight the impact of natural disasters and raise funds to save lives and fight poverty.”

Scarlett Johansson’s response to the matter was a bit more simple.

“I think for a non-governmental organization to be supporting something that’s a political cause… something feels not right about that to me,” the Avengers actress stated earlier this year in March, “There’s plenty of evidence that Oxfam does support and has funded a BDS movement in the past. It’s something that can’t really be denied.”

However, whether or not Scarlet Johansson is the real reason Oxfam is unable to enter Gaza, it seems that Palestinians in Gaza looking for help to repair their damaged water and public health infrastructure may not get the help they need.