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MSF suspends Nasser Hospital services
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced it suspended most non-critical services at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
“MSF said it suspended all noncritical services at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, after staff and patients reported armed, masked men moving through parts of the facility.”
The suspension followed reports from staff and patients of armed, masked men moving through parts of the facility and alleged security breaches.
MSF described "serious security threats" including intimidation, arbitrary arrests of patients and suspected movement of weapons.
It said it will continue only critical inpatient and surgical care for trauma and burn injuries.
MSF said it was ending support to paediatrics and maternity, including the neonatal ICU, and suspending outpatient services and mental-health programs.
MSF said it could not identify the gunmen's affiliation.
It said it has raised concerns with relevant authorities and stressed that hospitals must remain neutral civilian spaces.
Nasser hospital service suspension
MSF warned the suspension will severely affect patients who depend on Nasser’s maternity and burn wards.
Gaza health officials said they will take over maternity care but warned burn victims will have very limited options.
Several outlets note that hundreds rely on the hospital’s maternity and burn services daily.
MSF’s suspension ended paediatrics and neonatal ICU support and suspended outpatient burn screening and mental‑health programmes, raising immediate humanitarian concerns for women, newborns and burn patients.
Gaza health and aid crisis
The suspension sits against a wider backdrop of damage to Gaza’s health system, ongoing Israeli strikes that Palestinian authorities say continue to kill Palestinians during the ceasefire period, and new Israeli rules restricting aid groups.
“Palestinian authorities put the overall toll from the conflict since October 2023 at more than 72,000 killed and 171,000 wounded.”
Multiple sources report that Gaza health officials and Palestinian authorities record nearly‑daily fire and put the overall Palestinian death toll from the war at around 72,000; outlets caution that ministry figures do not distinguish civilians from fighters.
MSF and other aid groups say Israel has barred groups from operating in Gaza under new registration rules and that the move will gravely worsen medical support.
Hospital security claims
Following MSF’s disclosure, the Hamas‑run Interior Ministry said it will deploy police to secure hospitals and remove armed presences.
Hospital staff, some former employees and other outlets report repeated incidents of armed men, intimidation and alleged arbitrary arrests on hospital grounds.
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MSF said it reported its concerns to authorities.
The organisation also refused an Israeli demand to hand over staff lists without safety guarantees, according to some reports.
MSF Gaza access dispute
The disclosure compounds existing friction between MSF and Israel.
“Israel has barred MSF and other aid groups from operating in Gaza under new registration rules, a move MSF says will greatly worsen medical support in the already devastated territory.”
Several sources report Israel has refused to register or has barred MSF and dozens of other aid organisations from operating in Gaza under new rules, a policy MSF warns will 'greatly' or 'catastrophically' worsen medical support.
Outlets differ on emphasis: some foreground humanitarian fallout and the weakening of Gaza's health system, others foreground Israel's security justifications and allegations that militants have used hospitals.
All recognise the suspension reduces care in one of Gaza's last functioning referral hospitals.