TEL AVIV/GAZA (dpa-AFX) – Israel wants to stop operations by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the Gaza Strip. The Diaspora Ministry said it had taken “steps to end the activities of Doctors Without Borders in the Gaza Strip.” The reason was the violation of a new registration procedure: MSF had not provided any lists of Palestinian local workers. The organization must therefore leave the Gaza Strip by February 28th, according to the statement.
The registration process aims to “enable legitimate humanitarian work while preventing the misuse of humanitarian structures for hostile activities and terrorism.” This regulation applies to all humanitarian organizations operating in the region.
Doctors Without Borders announced on Friday that it had decided not to pass on a list of its Palestinian and international employees to the Israeli authorities. This was preceded by months of unsuccessful attempts to enter into dialogue with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of employees.
The organization also justified the decision with concerns for the safety of its employees. “In the occupied Palestinian territories, medical and humanitarian workers have repeatedly been intimidated, arbitrarily detained and attacked,” MSF said in a statement. Since October 2023, 1,700 health care workers and 15 MSF colleagues have been killed in the Gaza Strip.
Criticism of requirements and accusations of arbitrary decisions
At the beginning of the year, Israel revoked the licenses of dozens of aid organizations. Critics see the registration requirements for international aid organizations as unclear provisions that enable arbitrary decisions. Organizations should therefore also disclose confidential information about Palestinian employees and fire employees upon request without giving reasons.
The involvement of a party to the conflict in personnel verification is viewed as a violation of humanitarian principles such as neutrality and independence.
Israel makes serious allegations against Doctors Without Borders
Israel’s Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli renewed serious allegations against the aid organization, which it had already rejected. “We are aware that Doctors Without Borders employs people who are active in terrorist organizations – that is why (the organization) hides its employee lists,” Chikli’s statement said. MSF also works in coordination with the Hamas Ministry of Health, which is controlled by the Islamist terrorist organization.
Doctors Without Borders said in early January that the aid organization would never knowingly employ people involved in military activities. This contradicts their fundamental values and ethics. Instead of addressing concerns about sharing sensitive data, the responsible ministry ignored repeated requests for a meeting and accused Doctors Without Borders in the media of knowingly employing suspected terrorists.
Concern about medical care in Gaza
According to Doctors Without Borders, a lack of medical care remains a major problem in the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire that has been in place for more than three months.
“Amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and extreme violence against healthcare workers, the Israeli authorities are forcing humanitarian organizations to make an impossible choice: either share sensitive data about their staff or disrupt their vital medical care for people in the occupied Palestinian territories,” MSF wrote.
The organization warned of “devastating consequences” for the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories if it were forced to stop its work. We remain open to dialogue with Israel.
The Israeli statement said that “measures are now being examined to provide alternative medical solutions and ensure the continuity of humanitarian assistance to the residents of the Gaza Strip following the withdrawal of the organization.”/le/DP/zb
