The medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has accused Israeli authorities of forcing an impossible choice by demanding the personal information of its staff as a condition for continuing its lifesaving operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
MSF said it faced a complete suspension of its activities from March 1 unless it complies with what it termed “unreasonable demands.”
MSF Forced Into Impossible Choice Over Staff Safety
After months of resistance, the MSF stated in a statement on Saturday that, it will, as an exceptional measure, provide a defined list of Palestinian and international staff names to Israeli authorities.
MSF stressed the move comes only after exhaustive discussions with its Palestinian colleagues and with the explicit, individual consent of each staff member. It communicated this painful concession in a formal letter to Israel, stating its sole aim is to prevent the collapse of critical medical care for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
“Israel has knowingly given MSF and our Palestinian colleagues an impossible choice. Either we provide this information or abandon the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who need vital medical care,” the organisation stated.
The group said it had refused the demand for months due to legitimate safety fears, noting that Israeli military operations have killed 1,700 health workers. This also included 15 MSF staff, since October 2023.
It also warned that sharing the list carries significant risk in an environment where humanitarian workers have consistently been targeted.
Aid Blockades Continue Amidst Catastrophic Health Crisis
MSF further alleged a systematic Israeli campaign to strangle humanitarian operations. It also revealed that since January 1, 2026, Israel has blocked all entry of its international staff into Gaza and prevented all supply deliveries.
Additionally, MSF described these administrative blockages as part of a broader effort to undermine, discredit, and defame humanitarian action.
The organisation emphasised that the catastrophic situation requires more aid, not less. It detailed its massive scale of operations in 2025, which included nearly 800,000 outpatient consultations, treatment for over 100,000 trauma cases, and the distribution of more than 700 million litres of water.
At the start of 2026, MSF teams supported one in five hospital beds and assisted in the delivery of one in three babies in Gaza.
Despite its concession, MSF said it continues to seek dialogue with Israeli authorities to reassert the principles of independent humanitarian aid and safeguard its medical mission. It insists the safety of its staff remains the core parameter of any information sharing.
The Israeli authorities have yet to issue a public response to MSF’s latest communication or its grave allegations.
In a related development, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has recently opened a clinic in the Busuma refugee camp. The clinic will provide primary healthcare while supporting the Ministry of Health at a cholera treatment centre.
Similarly, MSF has opened a 30-bed surgical ward in Malakai Teaching Hospital, Upper Nile State, South Sudan. The humanitarian organisation said the ward will help improve surgical care in hospitals with limited medical facilities.
