Full Breakdown
Doctors Without Borders Faces Operational Challenges in Gaza
2/19/2026, 10:07:04 PM
Israeli Decision to Terminate MSF Activities
In early February 2025, Israel announced it would terminate all activities of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in Gaza. This decision, effective March 1, was based on MSF's failure to provide a list of its Palestinian staff, as required by Israeli regulations. MSF has criticized this move as a “pretext” to obstruct humanitarian aid, asserting that it will continue operations in Gaza for as long as possible despite the challenges posed by the Israeli government's restrictions.
Operational Challenges and Impact
Filipe Ribeiro, the head of MSF in the Palestinian territories, indicated that the organization has been unable to send international staff into Gaza since January 2025 due to Israeli entry denials. He noted that while MSF has some medical supplies in stock, their ability to bring in new supplies has been severely restricted. Ribeiro emphasized that MSF currently provides a significant portion of healthcare in Gaza, operating around 20 health centers and accounting for at least 20% of hospital beds in the territory. In 2025, MSF conducted over 800,000 medical consultations and treated more than 100,000 trauma cases.
Suspension of Non-Critical Activities
In January 2025, MSF partially suspended operations at Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza, due to the presence of armed men within the hospital compound. This situation raised concerns about the neutrality of the medical facility, which is against MSF's operational principles. Ribeiro clarified that the decision to suspend certain activities was based on the organization's capacity to provide safe medical care, rather than a direct response to Israel's termination of operations.
Criticism and Opposition
The Israeli government has alleged that two MSF employees had ties to Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, claims that MSF has vehemently denied. The organization stated that it has implemented a strict screening system for staff to prevent any affiliations with armed groups. The decision to terminate MSF's activities has drawn widespread condemnation from various non-governmental organizations and the United Nations, highlighting the potential humanitarian crisis that could ensue if MSF is forced to cease operations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “For the time being, we are still working in Gaza, and we plan to keep running our operations as long as we can,” — Filipe Ribeiro, Head of MSF in Palestinian Territories
- “MSF is one of the biggest actors when it comes to the health provision in Gaza and the West Bank, and if we are obliged to leave, then we will create a huge void in Gaza,” — Filipe Ribeiro
- “We decided to suspend operations and we are waiting for the Minister of Health and local authorities to take action” — Filipe Ribeiro
What's Next
MSF hopes to reopen dialogue with the Israeli government to facilitate the continuation of its operations in Gaza. The organization remains committed to providing medical care despite the ongoing challenges and restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities.
