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“Patients and MSF personnel have seen armed men, some masked, in different areas of the large compound of the hospital,” Doctors Without Borders said in a statement.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced the suspension of all non-critical medical operations in the Nasser hospital, Southern Gaza, after reports of armed men using the facility to move weapons and interrogate patients on Saturday.
“In recent months, in Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, patients and MSF personnel have seen armed men, some masked, in different areas of the large compound of the hospital,” said the non-profit organization in a statement published on its website.
They also specified that these situations occurred in parts of the medical compound where MSF has is not conducting activities.
“With an uptick since the ceasefire, MSF teams have reported a pattern of unacceptable acts, including the presence of armed men, intimidation, arbitrary arrests of patients, and a recent situation of suspicion of movement of weapons. These incidents pose serious security threats to our teams and patients,” MSF explained.
“MSF formally expressed our strong concern to the relevant authorities, and emphasised the incompatibility of such violations with MSF’s medical mission. Hospitals must remain neutral, civilian spaces, free from military presence or activity, to ensure the safe and impartial delivery of medical care,” the statement added.
A Palestinian woman helps a burn victim, Maria Abu Aawad, at a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital, amid severe shortages of medical equipment, medicines and essential materials needed for burn treatment, in Zawaida, in the central Gaza Strip, January 26, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)
According to a report by Reuters, this directive was also applied to several other hospitals in southern Gaza where armed men were spotted.
The Reuters report also included a statement by the Hamas-run Gaza Interior Ministry, which claimed that it was committed to preventing any armed presence inside hospitals, and that legal action would be taken against violators.
Israel to terminate MSF activity in Gaza after org. fails to provide staff list
MSF has been under scrutiny recently after failing to provide a staff list that would confirm it has no links to terrorist organizations.
On January 30, the organization announced it would not provide the staff lists requested by Israel to maintain access to Gaza and the West Bank, citing the inability to secure assurances about the safety of its teams as the reason for its decision.
As a result of the decision, Israel moved to terminate MSF’s presence in Gaza, announcing that all operations would cease on February 28, 2026.
“Unfortunately, MSF is once again demonstrating a lack of transparency and acting out of irrelevant interests,” said Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli. “The organization abruptly changed its position after publicly committing to act according to procedure.”
“We are aware that MSF employs individuals active in terrorist organizations, which is why it hides its employee lists. The organization operates in coordination with the Hamas Ministry of Health, and not by coincidence, its statements were published in proximity to similar statements from elements within the Strip.”
Shoshana Baker and The Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
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