Ministry Accuses Doctors Without Borders, Group Exits Gaza Over Staff List Dispute

The Diaspora Affairs Ministry has accused Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) of employing individuals allegedly affiliated with terrorist organizations in Gaza and the West Bank. The ministry announced that the aid group would cease operations in the Gaza Strip after refusing to provide the names of its Palestinian staff.

The ministry announced that the aid group would cease operations in the Gaza Strip after refusing to provide the names of its Palestinian staff.

Ministry's Justification and Clarification

The ministry stated that the demand for staff names aligns with official procedures applicable to all international humanitarian organizations operating in the region. Officials indicated this requirement is intended to prevent humanitarian cover from being used for terrorist activity. The ministry later clarified that employee lists are for internal use only and are not shared with external parties.

Doctors Without Borders Cites Safety Concerns

Doctors Without Borders, which has operations in various global conflict zones including the Palestinian territories, cited safety concerns as its reason for withholding the names. The organization stated that disclosing this information could endanger its workers and referenced the significant death toll among aid workers during the conflict in Gaza. The ministry affirmed that alternative medical aid is being arranged to ensure continuity of humanitarian assistance for Gaza residents.