Médecins Sans Frontières Condemns Israeli Order to Halt Gaza Operations
Geneva: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that an Israeli order requiring the organization to halt its humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip and leave the territory by 28 February 2026 will have “catastrophic” consequences for Palestinians amid the near-total collapse of the healthcare system.
In a statement, MSF Secretary-General Christopher Lockyear said the expulsion would deprive hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of critical medical care at a time when humanitarian needs are at their most acute. He described the decision as coming at a moment when “Palestinian people need more humanitarian assistance, not less.”
The warning followed a formal notification from Israeli occupation authorities instructing MSF to cease its activities and withdraw from Gaza by the end of February. Lockyear strongly condemned the move, stressing that MSF has been one of the last major international medical organizations operating at scale in the besieged enclave.
He highlighted that MSF provided more than 800,000 medical consultations and treated over 100,000 injuries in Gaza last year, in addition to supplying more than 700 million litres of water. He warned that the expulsion threatens to cut off a vital lifeline for a population facing severe shortages of healthcare, medicine, and basic services.
Lockyear further stated that MSF has been unable to import medical supplies into Gaza since December 2025, following a 60-day ultimatum imposed by Israeli occupation authorities. He accused Israel of conducting what he described as an “orchestrated campaign” to delegitimize the organization and noted that MSF has not received clear guarantees regarding the safety of its staff.
The decision is expected to significantly exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, raising urgent concerns over the fate of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who rely on MSF’s medical and humanitarian services
