• Doctors Without Borders has suspended non-critical operations at Nasser Hospital in Gaza.
• Suspension follows reports of armed men inside the hospital, potentially endangering patients.
• The charity continues to provide critical services, despite the ongoing security issues.
• Hospitals in Gaza are facing significant challenges amid ongoing military action and a fragile ceasefire.
• Israel's recent orders affecting aid organizations have compounded operational difficulties.

Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, has suspended its "non-critical" medical operations at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following multiple reports of armed men inside the facility posing significant security threats. MSF highlighted that patients and its own staff had observed “armed men, some masked,” in various parts of the hospital compound, prompting concerns about the safety and neutrality of the medical environment, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

The suspension of non-critical operations was first reported by MSF in a recent update on its website, reflecting an ongoing pattern of security breaches that have been exacerbated since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was established in October 2023. The announcement revealed that these security issues have included “intimidation, arbitrary arrests of patients, and suspicions of weapon movements” within the hospital, as noted by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

MSF confirmed that while it is suspending some services, it will continue to provide critical care, including inpatient and surgical services, specifically for trauma and burn cases. However, operations in pediatrics and maternity wards, including the neonatal intensive care unit, have been affected significantly, as emphasized by Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which stated that the charity’s withdrawal would significantly impact daily patient admissions in these critical areas, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

The presence of armed individuals within such facilities raises alarms not only for the safety of both patients and medical staff but also for the sanctity of hospitals as protected spaces under international law. MSF maintained that hospitals must remain neutral and free from military engagement to ensure the safe delivery of medical care. This has come amidst broader allegations against Israel concerning military actions against health facilities throughout the ongoing conflict, further complicating MSF’s operations in the region, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

In addition, the Israeli military has increasingly targeted aid organizations, including MSF, demanding compliance with new registration requirements that have created further operational barriers. MSF has stated that failing to comply with these demands will lead to further reductions in their ability to operate in the area, which already faces dire humanitarian needs. The ongoing violence and instability in Gaza, characterized by recent military actions that have resulted in high civilian casualties, have further complicated the humanitarian landscape, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.