Israel has banned the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) from operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank after the organization refused to hand over a list of its Palestinian and international staff, Middle East Eye reported. 

In a statement issued on Sunday, Israel's foreign ministry accused MSF of having "something to hide" for declining to provide the information, framing the demand as a matter of transparency and security.

"Turns out Doctors Without Borders has something to hide," the ministry said in a post on X. "Rather than accepting transparency, meant to protect all parties, MSF prefers to withdraw from Gaza."

Israeli authorities allege that two MSF employees had links to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, accusations the medical charity has strongly denied.
The foreign ministry said MSF had committed in early January to sharing staff lists as part of a registration process required by Israeli authorities.

"Despite its public commitment, the organization refrained from transferring the lists," the ministry said.

It added that MSF later announced it would not proceed with the registration process, which it said contradicted earlier statements and a binding protocol. As a result, the ministry said MSF would be forced to cease operations and leave the Gaza Strip by 28 February 2026.

In a statement published on its website on Friday, MSF confirmed that it had agreed, as an "exceptional measure", to share the names of its Palestinian and international staff with Israeli authorities.

However, the organization said it was unable to secure basic assurances regarding the use and protection of that information.

"Despite repeated efforts, it became evident that we were unable to build engagement with Israeli authorities on the concrete assurances required," MSF said.

The charity added that it sought guarantees that staff details would be used only for administrative purposes and would not place employees at risk.

MSF said those assurances were not provided and that it therefore "concluded that we will not share staff information in the current circumstances".

MSF's initial decision to comply with the Israeli measures sparked controversy within the medical community.

World-renowned Palestinian surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah condemned the move, warning that the charity was further endangering the lives of its staff by agreeing to comply with the order.

Israel's move comes amid growing restrictions on humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza.

In December, Israeli authorities announced plans to bar 37 aid groups, including MSF, from operating in the enclave as of 1 March, citing their failure to submit detailed information about Palestinian staff members.

Human rights groups have warned that such measures further undermine humanitarian access in Gaza, where Israel's ongoing military campaign has devastated healthcare infrastructure and left the population increasingly dependent on international aid.