Israel moves to end Médecins Sans Frontières operations in Gaza

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry announced it is moving to terminate the activities of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders, MSF) in the Gaza Strip, citing what it described as a serious and ongoing violation of registration and transparency requirements for international humanitarian organisations.

According to the ministry, which leads an inter-ministerial team overseeing the registration and supervision of international organisations operating in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, the French non-governmental organisation (NGO) failed to submit the required lists of local employees, a condition applied to all humanitarian groups operating in the area. Officials said the requirement is meant to prevent aid frameworks from being exploited by Hamas.

In early January, MSF committed to transferring the employee lists, later indicating that the lists would be submitted by January 27. However, despite that public commitment, the lists were never provided. The ministry added that MSF subsequently informed authorities it does not intend to proceed with the registration process at all.

The ministry emphasised that employee lists are not shared with external bodies and are used exclusively for internal regulatory and security purposes. “Contrary to the organisation’s claims, these lists are not shared with external parties and are used solely for internal purposes,” the statement said.

“In accordance with the regulations, MSF will cease its operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February 28, 2026,” the statement added, noting that assessments are being made to provide alternative medical solutions following MSF’s departure.

In 2024, the Israel Defence Forces released photos of Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket specialist Fadi al-Wadiya wearing the terror group’s uniform after MSF confirmed he was a staffer but denied he was a terrorist.

Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli accused MSF of acting without transparency and disregarding security concerns. “Humanitarian aid, yes. Security blindness, no,” Chikli said. “Unfortunately, MSF is once again demonstrating a lack of transparency and acting out of irrelevant interests. The organisation abruptly changed its position after publicly committing to act according to procedure.”

Chikli further alleged that MSF employs individuals affiliated with terrorist organisations. “We are aware that MSF employs individuals active in terrorist organisations, which is why it hides its employee lists,” he said. He also claimed the organisation operates in coordination with the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, noting that MSF statements were released around the same time as similar statements from sources inside the Strip.

Ministry Director General Avi Cohen-Scali said MSF had been given ample opportunity to comply. “The world must understand that MSF was given a clear opportunity, but the organisation chose to violate a public commitment and evade the basic transparency required of any humanitarian organisation,” he said. “If the organisation had nothing to hide, the employee lists would have been transferred to the inter-ministerial team.”

MSF previously cited the safety of staff as the reason for its refusal.

While the majority of non-governmental organisations working in Gaza have complied, 37 aid groups — including Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services and World Vision — did not.

No United Nations agencies, such as the UN World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, were affected. In 2025, Israel banned UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) activities. Israeli officials are prohibited from cooperating with the agency, and have demanded it be stripped of its authority in Gaza and defunded amid revelations that members of the agency’s staff participated in Hamas’s October 7 attacks.

According to the Israeli military, 85 per cent of Gaza’s hospitals have been used by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for terror.