Guinness World Records (GWR) has suspended the acceptance of new record submissions from Israel and the Palestinian Territories, citing instability in the region.

The policy, implemented in November 2023, bars records that list either location unless the attempt is carried out in partnership with a United Nations humanitarian relief agency.

The restriction came to wider public attention after the Israeli organization Matnat Chaim, an NGO known for promoting voluntary kidney donations—revealed that GWR had declined to collaborate on its planned record attempt.

In a reports, the group had intended to organize a mass photo gathering of 2,000 Israeli kidney donors, a project it had been developing since 2019.

Matnat Chaim criticized the decision, stating that excluding Israel’s achievement in altruistic kidney donation was “unacceptable,” and expressing disappointment that its record attempt could not move forward.

In a statement, GWR said it is closely monitoring developments in the region. The organization added that the policy undergoes monthly review and expressed hope that it will be able to resume accepting submissions from the affected areas soon.