Israel has revoked the operating privileges of the international medical organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), commonly known as Doctors Without Borders, within the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. This decisive action follows a protracted dispute concerning the charity’s refusal to submit comprehensive staff rosters to Israeli authorities.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry, in an official statement released on Sunday, characterized MSF’s reluctance as indicative of having ‘something to hide.’ The ministry framed its demand for staff lists as a fundamental issue of transparency and national security, essential for protecting all involved parties. The confrontation escalated through social media channels, with the ministry publicly criticizing the organization’s stance.
Israeli officials further substantiated their position by alleging connections between two MSF employees and Palestinian militant factions, namely Hamas and Islamic Jihad—claims that MSF has vehemently and categorically denied.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, MSF had initially committed in early January to providing staff information as a component of a mandatory registration protocol. However, the ministry asserts that the organization subsequently reneged on this commitment, ultimately announcing its withdrawal from the registration process altogether. This reversal, deemed a contradiction to prior agreements, prompted the Israeli directive for MSF to completely cease its humanitarian operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February 28, 2026.
In a counter-statement published on its website the preceding Friday, MSF presented a contrasting narrative. The medical charity confirmed it had, as an ‘exceptional measure,’ agreed in principle to share names of its Palestinian and international personnel. However, the organization stated it was unable to secure fundamental guarantees from Israeli authorities regarding the safeguarding and permissible use of this highly sensitive data.
MSF detailed its efforts to engage with Israeli officials to obtain concrete assurances that staff details would be utilized strictly for administrative purposes and would not jeopardize the safety or security of its employees. These efforts, according to MSF, proved futile. Facing a lack of adequate protections, the organization concluded it could not in good conscience share staff information under the prevailing circumstances.
This internal decision to initially comply had already generated significant controversy within the global medical community. Prominent figures, including world-renowned Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, condemned the potential compliance, warning it would further endanger aid workers.
This expulsion occurs against a backdrop of increasing Israeli restrictions on humanitarian entities operating in Gaza. In December, authorities unveiled intentions to block 37 aid groups from working in the enclave starting March 1, citing similar failures to submit detailed information on Palestinian staff members. Human rights organizations have consistently warned that such measures severely cripple humanitarian access in Gaza, where the healthcare infrastructure lies in ruins from ongoing military operations and the population faces extreme dependence on international aid for survival.
