Gaza's Nasser Hospital condemns move by MSF to suspend most services
Gaza’s Nasser Hospital has strongly condemned Doctors Without Borders (MSF) after the international aid organisation suspended most of its non-critical medical services at the hospital, citing security concerns. MSF reported that patients and staff had encountered armed, masked men inside parts of the facility, raising fears over intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and possible movement of weapons. The humanitarian group said it would continue providing emergency trauma and surgical care, but maternity, paediatrics, neonatal, outpatient burn, and mental health services were temporarily halted, putting hundreds of patients at risk.
Hospital officials rejected MSF’s allegations, describing them as inaccurate and potentially dangerous to a protected medical facility. They said the armed presence was limited to civilian police deployed to protect patients and staff , necessary after repeated attacks by militias and armed groups. Staff stressed that the measures were essential to maintain security amid the collapse of law and order and warned that false claims could endanger the hospital, one of Gaza’s few remaining fully functional medical facilities. The hospital treats hundreds daily, including war-wounded civilians and former Palestinian prisoners released under the ongoing ceasefire with Israel.
The MSF decision comes amid persistent violence in Gaza, despite the October 2023 US-brokered ceasefire . At least ten Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes over the weekend, including five in eastern Khan Younis and five in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp. Some victims were identified with markings of the Qassam Brigades , Hamas’s armed wing. Israel said its strikes were in response to repeated ceasefire violations and potential militant activity near buffer zones. Gaza health authorities report nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, while Israel confirms four of its soldiers have died in clashes.
The situation at Nasser Hospital highlights the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where prolonged conflict, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access have left medical facilities under severe strain. Many health workers have been killed, detained, or forced to flee, and hospitals face chronic shortages of supplies, fuel, and personnel. International bodies, including the United Nations and the World Health Organization, have repeatedly called for full protection of medical facilities, unrestricted humanitarian access, and respect for international law, but compliance remains limited. MSF has also resisted requests to share personal staff details with Israeli authorities, citing safety concerns.
The suspension of key services at Nasser Hospital underscores the challenges humanitarian organisations face in Gaza, where ongoing violence and insecurity threaten civilians and the delivery of essential medical care. Even with a formal ceasefire in place, daily airstrikes, clashes near buffer zones, and multiple armed groups operating in the area continue to endanger patients and staff, leaving the territory’s health system under immense strain.