Cancelling Doctors Without Borders Operations in Gaza and the West Bank

TEHRAN (Defapress) - The Israeli regime has banned the international organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) from operating in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. The decision was made after the medical charity refused to provide the names of its Palestinian and international staff to the Israeli authorities.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed in a statement on Sunday that Doctors Without Borders “has something to hide” and has chosen to withdraw from Gaza rather than accept the transparency it claims is necessary to protect all parties. Israeli authorities allege that two of the organization’s staff have ties to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movement, a claim that Doctors Without Borders has vehemently denied.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Doctors Without Borders had committed in early January to provide a list of its staff as part of a mandatory registration process. But the organization refused to transfer and hand over the list of names and details of its employees and then announced that it would not continue the registration process. As a result, the organization’s activities in Gaza will be suspended until February 28, 2026, and its staff will have to leave the area.

In a statement, MSF confirmed that it had initially agreed to provide the names as an “exceptional measure,” but after repeated attempts, it was unable to obtain the necessary guarantees from the Israeli authorities. The organization sought guarantees that the staff’s information would be used solely for administrative purposes and that staff would not be put at risk. Thus, without these guarantees, MSF announced that it was unable to share the information under the current circumstances.

This initial decision by MSF to cooperate with Israel’s request sparked criticism in the medical community. Leading Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah condemned the move, warning that such an agreement would further endanger the lives of staff.

The ban follows a series of tightening restrictions on humanitarian organizations in Gaza. Israel announced last December that it would suspend the operations of 37 aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, from March 1 for failing to provide details of Palestinian staff.

Rights groups have warned that such measures will further restrict humanitarian access and exacerbate a humanitarian crisis at a time when Gaza’s health infrastructure has been devastated by Israeli military operations and the population is heavily dependent on international aid.

The ban on Doctors Without Borders, which has been on the front lines of providing medical services in crisis areas for years, is a serious blow to aid efforts in Gaza and has raised concerns about the future of aid to Palestinian civilians.