Médecins Sans Frontières said it may be forced to suspend its medical operations in Palestine from March 1 unless it complies with Israeli demands to register staff, including by handing over personal information.
In a statement, MSF said it had informed Israeli authorities that, as an “exceptional measure,” it is prepared to share a defined list of Palestinian and international staff names, subject to strict parameters and only with the explicit consent of the individuals concerned, in order to continue providing medical care.
MSF statement on staff registration and the continuation of medical care in the Palestine. Posted on X @MSF
The organization said the move followed months of discussions with Israeli authorities and governments involved in the talks, after all other options were exhausted. “Israel has knowingly given MSF and our Palestinian colleagues an impossible choice; either we provide this information or abandon the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who need vital medical care,” the statement said.
MSF stressed it had so far refused to hand over staff data due to safety concerns, noting that some 1,700 health workers – including 15 MSF staff – have been killed since October 2023. It added that since January 1, 2026, all international MSF staff have been denied entry to Gaza and all supplies blocked.
“The humanitarian needs across Gaza and the West Bank remain immense,” MSF said, adding it would continue seeking dialogue with Israeli authorities to uphold the principles of independent humanitarian aid and avoid abandoning patients in need.