Medics Without Borders Suspends Activities at Gaza Hospital Amid Armed Presence

Palestine - Ekhbary News Agency

Medics Without Borders Suspends Activities at Gaza Hospital Amid Armed Presence

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has announced the suspension of its "non-critical" medical activities at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. The decision follows persistent reports from patients and MSF's own staff regarding the presence of armed men within the hospital premises. This development has amplified concerns within the international medical humanitarian organization about the safety of patients and its personnel, as well as the overall degradation of the healthcare facility's operational environment.

According to a statement from the Geneva-based organization, the suspension of non-essential operations at Nasser Hospital, a key medical facility in the southern Gaza Strip, commenced on January 20th. MSF cited serious concerns related to "facility management, the preservation of its neutrality, and security violations" as the primary drivers for this decision.

Numerous accounts from patients and hospital staff, corroborated by MSF teams, have detailed sightings of armed individuals, some masked, within various sections of the hospital complex over recent months. These incidents raise critical questions about the hospital's capacity to maintain a safe and neutral environment conducive to treating the wounded and sick.

In response, the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, issued a statement affirming its commitment to preventing any armed presence within hospitals and pledged to pursue legal action against offenders. The ministry suggested that armed members of certain Gaza families had recently entered hospitals, without identifying specific individuals involved.

This situation unfolds against a backdrop of fragile ceasefire agreements. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce reached in October, brokered by the United States to end the Gaza war. MSF has highlighted a pattern of "unacceptable acts" observed since the ceasefire, including the presence of armed individuals, intimidation, arbitrary detentions of patients, and recent suspicions of weapons being moved within the facility.

The Gaza Ministry of Health reports that over 590 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the territory since the ceasefire began. On the Israeli side, four soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period. These figures underscore the ongoing volatility and conflict in the region.

MSF initially disclosed the suspension of activities at Nasser Hospital in a "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) section on its website concerning its work in Gaza, with the latest update dated February 11th. The organization elaborated that the presence of armed individuals, even in areas where MSF does not operate, coupled with suspected weapons transfers, poses severe security risks to both patients and staff.

A representative from MSF informed the Reuters news agency that the organization continues to support certain critical services at Nasser Hospital, including inpatient care and surgical interventions for patients requiring life-saving treatment. MSF stated that it has conveyed its concerns to the relevant authorities, without specifying to whom these reports were submitted.

MSF reiterated its stance that "Hospitals must remain neutral and civilian spaces, free from military presence or activity, to ensure the safe and impartial delivery of medical care." These comments come amidst increasing pressure on humanitarian organizations. Last month, Israel mandated MSF and over 30 other international organizations to cease operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank if they did not comply with new regulations, including sharing staff information. MSF had previously stated on January 30th that it would not submit a list of its staff to Israel due to a lack of assurances regarding their safety.

The Israeli military, in turn, asserts that it has targeted hospitals during the war due to alleged Hamas combatant activity within them, and the discovery of parts of Hamas's tunnel network beneath medical facilities. Hamas denies using hospitals for military purposes.

Some Israeli hostages captured during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the current war, have reportedly been held at Nasser Hospital, the largest hospital in southern Gaza. Hospitals are protected entities under international law, and both attacking them and using them for military purposes are considered violations of this law.

While medical facilities can lose their protected status under specific conditions, human rights groups argue that Israel has often failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify its attacks on these sites during the conflict.

Ekhbary News Agency