Israel boots Doctors Without Borders from Gaza over terror ties

Switzerland-based NGO Doctors Without Borders wasordered to halt activities in the Gaza Strip after it refused to turn over lists of employees to Israel – amid accusations it employed terrorists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel’s government announced Sunday that it has ordered the NGO Doctors Without Borders to cease all operations in the Gaza Strip, after it refused to hand over information regarding Gazans it employs.

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said that the Geneva-based group, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has been instructed to leave the Gaza Strip after it failed to address questions regarding its hiring of members of Islamist terror groups including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

In a statement, the ministry said that MSF had agreed last month to provide information on Gazans it employs, with a deadline of January 27 set for handing over a list of local employees.

However, the ministry said that MSF later reneged on its agreement and has refused to hand over employee lists.

“In accordance with the regulations, MSF will cease its operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February 28, 2026,” the ministry said.

“Concurrently, assessments are being made to provide alternative medical solutions to ensure the continuity of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip following the organization’s departure.”

Over the years, there have been multiple instances in which employees of the organization were found to be active members of terrorist organizations.

In August 2018, IDF soldiers shot and killed Hani al-Majdalawi, a nurse for MSF, after he threw a bomb and opened fire at the IDF force.

Last month, Israel revealed that several other MSF employees had been identified as members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

In response to the discoveries, and in keeping with a new law regulating the operation of foreign NGOs, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs instructed MSF last month to hand over information on all of its Gazan employees.

On Sunday, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli (Likud) castigated MSF’s refusal to identify its workers in Gaza, adding that Israel has already identified additional MSF employees linked to terror groups.

“Humanitarian aid, yes. Security blindness, no. Unfortunately, MSF is once again demonstrating a lack of transparency and acting out of irrelevant interests,” Chikli said.

“The organization abruptly changed its position after publicly committing to act according to procedure. We are aware that MSF employs individuals active in terrorist organizations, which is why it hides its employee lists.”

“The organization operates in coordination with the Hamas Ministry of Health, and not by coincidence, its statements were published in proximity to similar statements from elements within the Strip.”

Amichai ChikliDoctors without Bordersgaza strip