Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF) is warning that its medical operations in the Gaza Strip may be forced to shut down after new Israeli measures placed its legal status in jeopardy.
The development has intensified fears among Palestinians and MSF staff at a time when Gaza’s health system is barely functioning and struggling to meet even the most basic medical needs.
MSF currently runs critical trauma and surgical programs at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where thousands of patients rely on its teams for treatment of severe injuries, burns, and complex fractures.
With many hospitals damaged, understaffed, or operating far beyond capacity, residents say the loss of MSF’s services would leave a dangerous gap in lifesaving care.
The organization said on Sunday that Israel had suspended its registration under newly introduced regulations governing international organizations working in Gaza and the West Bank.
MSF noted that Israeli authorities did not indicate when, or whether, its registration would be restored, leaving its ability to continue operating uncertain.
According to MSF, Israeli officials suggested that the impact of the organization’s departure would be minimal—an assertion MSF strongly disputed, stressing that its teams are among the few remaining providers of specialized trauma care in Gaza’s devastated health system.
Mohammad Abu Jaser, who oversees MSF’s burns unit, said the teams continue to treat patients with deep burns, multiple traumatic injuries, and severe fractures.
“We are a humanitarian medical organization serving people who have no alternatives. A sizable portion of the population depends on our work, especially at Nasser Medical Complex,” he said.
Abu Jaser warned that if MSF is prevented from operating, the consequences would extend beyond the loss of medical staff.
He said the flow of medical supplies and specialized personnel—already severely restricted—would be further disrupted, worsening conditions for hospitals that are struggling to function.
MSF has repeatedly cautioned that Gaza’s health system is nearing total collapse. The organization said the new Israeli regulations could sharply limit the ability of international NGOs to operate at a time when demand for emergency medical care continues to rise.
The group has reported treating large numbers of trauma patients, performing extensive surgical procedures, and providing water, sanitation, and mental‑health support to displaced families throughout the war.
MSF has also confirmed that several of its staff members have been killed in Israeli attacks, heightening concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s healthcare system remains barely functioning, strained by severe shortages of fuel, medical equipment, and essential medicines.
Hospitals face severe shortages of fuel, medical equipment, and essential medicines, while restrictions on humanitarian aid continue to limit the supplies needed to keep medical facilities operational.
