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Israel announced Sunday it has banned Doctors Without Borders from operating in the Gaza Strip and ordered the medical charity to cease activities by Feb. 28, citing the organization's refusal to submit employee lists to Israeli authorities.
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, which oversees humanitarian organizations working in Gaza and the West Bank, said the decision came after MSF declined to provide staff rosters that Tel Aviv requires from all aid groups operating in the region.
According to a ministry statement cited by Maariv newspaper, the employee lists are "not shared with external parties and are used solely for internal purposes." The ministry said the requirement aims to "enable legitimate relief activities while preventing the exploitation of humanitarian cover for hostile or terrorist purposes."
Doctors Without Borders pushed back against the demand Friday, saying it would not share its Palestinian and international staff lists because Israel refused to "secure assurances to ensure the safety of our staff or the independent management of our operations."
The organization, known by its French acronym MSF, is among the largest humanitarian groups working in Gaza. Its expulsion is expected to significantly worsen access to medical services in the enclave, where health infrastructure has been decimated.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza, now in its second year, has killed nearly 71,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 171,400, according to health authorities. The assault has destroyed approximately 90% of civilian infrastructure in the territory, with United Nations estimates placing reconstruction costs at roughly $70 billion.
Doctors Without Borders operates emergency medical facilities and provides critical surgical care in conflict zones worldwide. The organization typically maintains strict independence from government oversight to ensure access to populations in war-affected areas.
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