Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism confirmed on Sunday its decision to terminate the activities of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Gaza, effective February 28. The termination stems from MSF’s failure to provide Israeli authorities with lists of its local employees, a requirement mandated for all humanitarian organizations operating in the region, according to the ministry.
This dispute follows a broader Israeli directive issued in December, which threatened to bar 37 aid groups from operating in Gaza starting March 1 if they did not submit comprehensive data on their Palestinian personnel. The United Nations and various non-governmental organizations previously condemned that initial order for threatening life-saving aid delivery.
MSF reportedly cited grave concerns for staff safety and a lack of assurances regarding the handling of sensitive personnel data when it declined to submit the required documentation in early January. The Israeli ministry stated that MSF had initially committed to sharing the list but later contradicted this commitment by announcing it would not proceed with the registration process at all.
Prior to this escalation, the ministry had alleged that two MSF employees maintained links with Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, claims which the medical charity has consistently denied. MSF has been a crucial provider of medical support in Gaza, reportedly operating about 20 health centers and supplying at least 20 percent of the territory’s hospital beds.
Since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, MSF reported that 15 of its employees have been killed while operating in the enclave. The organization conducted over 800,000 medical consultations and more than 10,000 infant deliveries in 2025 alone, underscoring its significant operational footprint.
Analysts suggest this action represents an extension of Israel’s systematic control over humanitarian access to the region. One emergency physician noted to Al Jazeera that Israel has been systematically targeting the Palestinian healthcare system, thereby increasing dependency on international aid groups like MSF.
The cessation of MSF’s work raises severe concerns among aid agencies regarding the potential collapse of essential services, including emergency care and maternal health support. Without this international assistance, hundreds of thousands of residents in Gaza face a critical gap in basic medical provisions.
