Your questions about our work in Gaza, answered

Why is MSF speaking out about the conflict in Gaza?

One of the central pillars of our identity is to bear witness and call attention to the problems driving emergency needs in the places where we provide humanitarian assistance. 

We have a long history of speaking out when governments or other actors implement policies that threaten the health and safety of our patients or our staff, for example in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan. For example, in 2015, we condemned the US government following the bombing of our hospital by US armed forces in Kunduz, Afghanistan, which killed 42 patients and staff.  We called out the Saudi- and Emirati-led coalition for belatedly acknowledging responsibility but avoiding true accountability for a deadly 2016 strike on MSF-supported Shiara hospital in northern Yemen. And in 2016, we condemned Syrian and Russian forces for attacks on MSF-supported hospitals in Syria.

International humanitarian law and the rules of war require militaries to distinguish between civilians and combatants and prohibit attacks that cause disproportionate harm to civilians and civilian objects.

Medical facilities and their surrounding areas have repeatedly been attacked or subjected to evacuation orders by Israeli forces, making access to health care extremely dangerous for patients and putting the lives of medical staff at risk. 

An immediate and sustained ceasefire is critically needed to stop the suffering.

Why are your statements so critical of Israel? Why are you not talking about Hamas?

As humanitarians, we grieve for all civilian lives lost, and the vast majority of the victims of this conflict are civilians, including many elderly people, women, and children. Violence against civilians is never justified, and all civilians deserve protection.

Our statements and reporting are rooted in the experiences of our patients and staff on the ground, and the actions we directly witness in the areas where we work. In Gaza, Israeli armed forces' activities are central to the challenges civilians face, particularly in terms of access to medical care and the safety of health workers and facilities. We report on these realities because they directly impact our ability to provide care.

Why is MSF calling for a ceasefire? Aren’t you a non-partisan organization?

As a humanitarian organization, our primary aim is to provide lifesaving medical care to those in need. The widespread attacks and the devastation of the health care system in Gaza have made it impossible to safely deliver the necessary humanitarian aid. A ceasefire is essential to allow us to reach civilians in need of urgent care, which is at the heart of our work. 

MSF provides medical care to anyone who needs it, regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation. As an organization, we focus on filling the greatest gaps in health care. As such, a sustained ceasefire is the best way for us to provide care to those who need it most.

We have no agenda except to go where we are needed and treat patients. Right now in Gaza, due to the way the war is being conducted—indiscriminate bombing of civilians and hospitals and humanitarian spaces and a total siege of basic necessities—we can’t safely treat patients.

How does MSF respond to critiques that it is anti-Israel or antisemitic?

MSF understands how serious antisemitism is and we are committed to taking it seriously.

Any form of bigotry or discrimination by MSF staff is unacceptable.

We do not believe that criticism of Israeli government policies is equivalent to antisemitism. Our statements and reporting are based on the realities on the ground and the events witnessed by our staff and patients.

MSF speaks out when governments or actors implement policies that are harmful to the health and safety of our patients or our staff. The way Israel is prosecuting this war is causing massive death and suffering among Palestinian civilians and putting our staff at risk. This is inconsistent with the norms and laws of war.

What is MSF’s relationship with Hamas in the Gaza Strip?

MSF works with the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is the governing authority responsible for health care, as we do with medical authorities in all regions where we operate. To provide medical care in conflict zones, MSF must coordinate with local authorities—regardless of their political affiliation—to facilitate access to patients and health facilities.

This coordination allows us to deliver critical medical care to civilians in need, while maintaining our strict neutrality. In Gaza, this includes contact with both the civilian administration led by Hamas and the Israeli authorities. MSF operates in more than 70 countries and maintains contact with all relevant actors in conflict areas to ensure the safety of our teams and patients.