By Elsie Kamsiyochi
The international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has suspended non-critical medical services at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, citing serious concerns about security breaches and the presence of armed individuals inside the facility.
In a statement released on February 14, MSF said it halted non-essential activities at the hospital on January 20 after reports from both patients and staff indicated that armed men — some reportedly masked — had been seen within the hospital compound.
The organization also raised alarm over suspicions that weapons may have been moved through the facility, a development it described as deeply troubling and incompatible with the neutrality required for medical operations.
The Geneva-based charity noted that this marks the first time it has publicly reported the presence of armed actors inside a Gaza hospital or concerns about a medical site potentially being used in connection with weapons movement.
MSF stressed that while some of the reported activity occurred in areas where it does not directly operate, the overall environment created unacceptable risks for both patients and medical personnel.
Despite suspending non-critical services, MSF confirmed it continues to support certain life-saving activities at Nasser Hospital, including inpatient and surgical care for patients requiring urgent treatment. However, the organization emphasized that repeated security incidents have made it increasingly difficult to guarantee safe and impartial healthcare delivery.
Since a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was reached in October under a U.S.-backed initiative aimed at ending the war in Gaza, both sides have accused each other of violations.
MSF said that since the ceasefire began, its teams have documented what it described as a “pattern of unacceptable acts,” including intimidation, the presence of armed men, arbitrary arrests of patients, and suspicions regarding the movement of weapons within medical premises.
In response, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza stated it was committed to preventing armed presence in hospitals and would pursue legal action against anyone violating that principle.
The ministry suggested that members of certain local families may have entered hospitals while armed but did not provide specific details.
Hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law and are intended to function as neutral civilian spaces, insulated from military activity.
“Hospitals must remain neutral, civilian spaces, free from military presence or activity, to ensure the safe and impartial delivery of medical care,” MSF said in its statement.
The organization added that it had raised its concerns with relevant authorities but did not specify which bodies were contacted.
Throughout the conflict, the Israeli military has said it has targeted certain hospitals because it believes Hamas fighters were operating within them, and has reported discovering parts of Hamas’ tunnel network beneath some medical facilities. Hamas has consistently denied using hospitals for military purposes.
Human rights groups have argued that in many instances, sufficient evidence has not been presented to justify attacks on protected medical sites.
The suspension at Nasser Hospital underscores the fragile and volatile conditions under which humanitarian organizations are operating in Gaza. Beyond the immediate security concerns, MSF is also navigating increasing political pressure.
In January, Israel ordered MSF and around 30 other international organizations to comply with new regulatory requirements including providing staff details or risk being barred from operating in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
MSF has stated it would not submit a staff list without firm assurances regarding the safety of its personnel.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, MSF’s decision highlights the complex balance aid organizations must strike between continuing essential services and ensuring the safety and neutrality of their operations.
While life-saving care continues at Nasser Hospital, the suspension of broader services serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing healthcare providers in conflict zones.
Source Reuters
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