Doctors Without Borders says it will keep working in Gaza as long as possible after Israel ordered its activities to cease, warning of a healthcare void.
AMMAN: The head of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the Palestinian territories says the charity will continue its work in Gaza for as long as it can. This follows an Israeli decision to terminate all MSF activities in the territory.
Filipe Ribeiro told AFP that operations are already facing severe challenges. “Since the beginning of January, we are not anymore in the capacity to get international staff inside Gaza,” he said.
He added that the Israeli authorities have denied entry to Gaza and the West Bank for its personnel. MSF’s ability to bring in medical supplies has also been impacted.
“They’re not allowed for now, but we have some stocks in our pharmacies that will allow us to keep running operations for time being,” Ribeiro stated. The charity currently has teams and stocks inside Gaza.
Israel announced in early February that MSF’s operations must end by March 1. It cited the charity’s failure to provide a list of its Palestinian staff as the reason.
MSF has slammed the move as a “pretext” to obstruct aid. The charity says it did not provide staff names because Israeli authorities offered no safety assurances.
Israel had previously alleged that two MSF employees had links with militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. MSF has repeatedly and vehemently denied these claims.
Ribeiro warned of the massive impact the termination would have on healthcare in Gaza. “MSF is one of the biggest actors when it comes to the health provision in Gaza and the West Bank,” he said.
He added that if forced to leave, it would “create a huge void in Gaza”. The charity says it currently provides at least 20% of hospital beds in the territory.
It also operates around 20 health centres there. In 2025 alone, MSF carried out more than 800,000 medical consultations in Gaza.
It treated more than 100,000 trauma cases and assisted more than 10,000 infant deliveries that year. The wider Israeli order affects 37 aid organisations from March 1.
This broader decision has drawn widespread condemnation from NGOs and the United Nations.
The Sun Malaysia
