Israel has banned Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and 36 other humanitarian aid organizations from operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, effective January 1. The ban prevents MSF from bringing in aid supplies or international staff to the Palestinian territories, forcing the organization to rely entirely on its local workforce to continue providing medical care.
The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs justified the decision by claiming that some MSF workers were affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Specifically, Israel accused the organization of employing two individuals who allegedly held membership in these militant groups. MSF categorically denied these accusations, stating that the organization would never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity.
The humanitarian impact of the ban is expected to be devastating. MSF has reported that it supports approximately 20 percent of hospital beds in Gaza and assists with one-third of all births in the territory. During 2025 alone, the organization treated around one million patients, representing half of Gaza's entire population. The loss of MSF operations will create a massive gap in healthcare delivery.
Since October 2023, 15 MSF colleagues have been killed by Israeli forces, which has heightened the organization's concerns about sharing personal information of its Palestinian staff with Israeli authorities. MSF expressed legitimate worries that the registration requirement could put its local employees at risk. The organization has been operating in the Palestinian territories for decades.
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies from ten countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, have strongly condemned the ban and urged Israel to reverse its decision. International officials warn that the measure will exacerbate what is already a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the healthcare system has been decimated by ongoing military operations.
Other prominent organizations affected by the ban include World Vision International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Oxfam. Israel maintains that the new regulations are designed to prevent Hamas from infiltrating humanitarian organizations. However, critics argue that the ban effectively punishes Gaza's civilian population by cutting off essential aid.
Aid groups that have lost their registration will be required to cease all operations by March 1. The deadline has created urgency among humanitarian workers who are racing to transfer responsibilities and train local staff before being forced to leave. Medical facilities throughout Gaza are preparing for severe shortages as international support is withdrawn.
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