Doctors Without Borders has suspended non-critical medical work at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, citing reports from patients and its own staff of armed men inside the facility and concerns over weapons being moved within the compound — marking the first time an international humanitarian group has publicly acknowledged such activity in the territory.
The Geneva-based medical charity, known by its French acronym MSF, said it halted non-essential operations at the Khan Younis hospital on January 20 over “management of the structure, the safeguarding of its neutrality, and security breaches.”
In recent months, patients and personnel had “seen armed men, some masked,” in areas of the hospital compound, MSF said in an update posted February 11 on its website.
‘Unacceptable Acts’ Since Ceasefire
The suspension comes after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October as part of a U.S.-backed plan to end the war. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the terms.
Since the truce took effect, “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,” the organization said.
MSF stressed that the armed men were seen in areas of the hospital where it does not carry out activities. But their presence, along with suspected weapons transfers, posed serious security risks to patients and personnel.
The group said it had expressed concern to “the relevant authorities” but did not specify which entities received the reports.
Hamas Responds
The Hamas-run Interior Ministry issued a statement saying it was committed to preventing any armed presence inside hospitals and that legal action would be taken against violators. It suggested that armed members of certain Gazan families had recently entered medical facilities, but did not identify those involved.
The statement did not directly address MSF’s specific allegations about Nasser Hospital.
Hospitals Under International Law
Hospitals are protected sites under international law. Both attacking medical facilities and using them for military purposes are typically considered breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
The Israeli military has repeatedly said it has targeted hospitals during the war because Hamas fighters were operating inside them. Parts of Hamas’ tunnel network have been found beneath medical facilities, according to Israeli officials. The Palestinian Islamist group denies using hospitals for military purposes.
Some Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 202,3 attack that ignited the war have said they were held at Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza.
Rights groups acknowledge that medical facilities can lose their protected status under certain conditions, but many argue Israel has not shown sufficient evidence in many cases to justify its attacks.
What MSF Is Still Doing
Despite the suspension, MSF continues to support some critical services at Nasser Hospital, including inpatient and surgical care for certain patients requiring life-saving treatment, a representative told Reuters.
The group disclosed the suspension in a “frequently asked questions” section on its website about its work in Gaza, not in a press release or public announcement — a low-key disclosure for a significant development.
Broader Context: Israel’s Order
The suspension comes as MSF and other international aid groups face mounting pressure from Israel. Last month, Israel ordered MSF and 30 other organizations to stop work in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank unless they met new rules, including sharing details about their staff.
MSF on January 30 said it would not submit a staff list to Israel after failing to receive assurances over their safety.
The group’s statement on Nasser Hospital makes no mention of Israel’s demand. But the timing — a disclosure posted quietly online, weeks after the actual suspension — suggests an organization navigating extraordinary pressure in an active war zone.
The Takeaway
For the first time, an international humanitarian group has publicly confirmed what Israel has long alleged: armed men operating inside Gaza hospitals, and weapons moved through medical facilities.
MSF’s language is careful. It does not attribute the activity to Hamas. It does not say the armed men were fighters. It does not confirm that the weapons were used for military purposes.
But it does say this: “Hospitals must remain neutral, civilian spaces, free from military presence or activity, to ensure the safe and impartial delivery of medical care.”
That neutrality, MSF has now acknowledged, was breached at Nasser Hospital. And as a result, patients in southern Gaza are receiving less care than they were before.
