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Israel moves to expel MSF from Gaza
Israel announced on Sunday it will revoke the operating license of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Gaza after the medical charity declined to provide a full list of its local and international staff to Israeli authorities.
Demand for staff lists triggers dispute
On 30 December, Israel ordered 37 international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to submit detailed records of their employees, citing concerns that some staff may have ties to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. MSF, one of the targeted groups, rejected the demand, stating it could not guarantee the safety of its personnel.
The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism confirmed the decision to terminate MSF's activities, attributing it to the organisation's failure to comply with the new registration requirements.
MSF cites safety concerns in refusal
In a statement released on Friday, MSF said it had offered to share staff names as an "exceptional measure," but only under strict conditions to protect its employees. The charity reported that Israeli authorities had not provided the necessary assurances that the information would not be misused or put staff at risk.
"Despite repeated efforts, it became evident in recent days that we were unable to build engagement with Israeli authorities on the concrete assurances required."
MSF statement
Sam Rose, director of Gaza affairs for the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), warned that the ban would severely hinder healthcare delivery in Gaza. He noted that MSF's decision reflected broader fears among aid organisations, given the high number of medical workers killed in the conflict.
Humanitarian impact and casualties
MSF reports that 1,700 healthcare workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began, including 15 of its own staff. The organisation currently operates around 20 health centres and provides at least 20% of hospital beds in the territory. In 2025 alone, MSF conducted over 800,000 medical consultations, facilitated more than 10,000 infant deliveries, and distributed drinking water.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 71,660 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military campaign in response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The ministry stated that at least 509 Palestinians have been killed since a ceasefire began on 10 October 2025, alongside four Israeli soldiers.
International condemnation of Israel's move
The decision to revoke the licenses of 37 NGOs, including MSF, ActionAid, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, was met with criticism from 10 countries, including the UK, France, and Canada. These nations argued that the new rules would severely restrict access to essential services in Gaza.
The affected organisations were given 60 days to cease operations. Israel justified the measure as necessary to prevent "the infiltration of terrorist operatives into humanitarian structures."
