What is MSF Hiding from Israel? Is Its Gaza Sector a genocidal Hamas-Linked UNRWA Model?

What is MSF Hiding from Israel? Is Its Gaza Sector a Hamas-Linked UNRWA Model?

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has been very controversial about its involvement in Gaza, especially in the context of its interactions with Israel. The organization, which often claims neutrality and humanitarian focus, has increasingly been accused of promoting anti-Israel narratives and downplaying or outright ignoring Hamas’s role in the Gaza conflict. This has led to growing concerns about MSF’s true intentions and the nature of its work in Gaza. So, what exactly is MSF hiding from Israel, and is its presence in Gaza mirroring the politically charged model of the Hamas-affiliated UNRWA?

MSF’s Lack of Transparency

Israel has raised significant concerns over MSF’s transparency, particularly its refusal to comply with basic registration requirements mandated by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. The organization has declined to provide a list of its employees operating in Gaza, despite this being a standard procedure for organizations working in the region. This refusal to cooperate with Israeli authorities raises questions about the organization’s operations, especially in a politically volatile environment like Gaza.

While MSF claims to be a leading humanitarian actor in Gaza, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise. Out of 220 primary care clinics operating in the region, MSF operates just five. Additionally, of the 15 field hospitals established during the war, MSF ran only two. This stands in stark contrast to the 18 government-run hospitals operating in Gaza. Furthermore, MSF has only facilitated the entry of 95 aid trucks during the current ceasefire, a negligible number compared to the tens of thousands of trucks sent by other international organizations.

MSF and Hamas Propaganda: An Alarming Partnership?

In recent months, MSF has found itself at the center of controversy, particularly due to its media appearances, including on platforms like PBS. In a critical article titled “Hamas Propaganda by Doctors Without Borders, Courtesy of PBS NewsHour” (Dec. 21, 2023), it was pointed out that PBS amplified Hamas propaganda by featuring MSF representatives without adequate scrutiny. The article claims that MSF has falsely presented itself as a neutral medical organization while consistently promoting anti-Israel narratives and minimizing or erasing Hamas’s role in the conflict.

The author of the article specifically targets two PBS segments:

• Avril Benoit (Dec. 14, 2023): Benoit was accused of blaming Israel exclusively for the suffering in Gaza, dismissing evidence of Hamas’s military use of hospitals, and disregarding Israeli intelligence as unconvincing.
• Ghassan Abu Sittah (Dec. 18, 2023): Abu Sittah, a prominent MSF figure, was portrayed as an activist doctor who spread false claims about Israeli responsibility for the Al-Ahli hospital explosion and downplayed evidence of Hamas’s use of hospitals for military purposes.

PBS presented these MSF figures as objective medical witnesses, while allegedly overlooking their political activism and the disputed nature of their claims. The article contends that substantial evidence shows Hamas has embedded military operations within hospitals, but MSF representatives continue to deny this in order to support accusations of Israeli war crimes. The piece concludes that PBS failed its journalistic responsibility by providing an uncritical platform to what the author characterizes as propaganda.

The Medicalization of Disinformation: MSF’s Shift in Neutrality

A deeper critique of MSF is offered in the analysis “The Medicalization of Hamas Disinformation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)” (Nov. 3, 2025). This article notes that MSF abandoned its longstanding neutrality after the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas, failing to condemn the attacks and instead framing them as a reaction to Israeli policies. It also claims that MSF, using the moral authority of medicine, helped spread unverified or false accusations of Israeli war crimes, particularly in relation to allegations that Israel deliberately targeted hospitals.

A central case is the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital on October 17, 2023. MSF physician Ghassan Abu Sittah participated in a Hamas Health Ministry press conference, where he provided “eyewitness” testimony blaming Israel for the explosion. However, intelligence from multiple countries, including Israel, the United States, France, Canada, and the UK, later indicated that the explosion was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket, not an Israeli airstrike.

Despite this, Abu Sittah and MSF continued to cite the incident as evidence of Israeli war crimes, refusing to retract their claims even after the truth came to light. MSF leaders like Avril Benoit and Christopher Lockyear also denied evidence of Hamas using hospitals for military purposes, despite credible documentation from multiple sources confirming this. The failure to retract or correct these false claims is troubling, especially given the significant role that medical organizations like MSF play in shaping international perceptions of the conflict.

MSF and Hamas: A Symbiotic Relationship?

MSF’s role in Gaza seems increasingly intertwined with Hamas’s political agenda. The organization’s reliance on local staff, including individuals with potential ties to Hamas, raises concerns about its objectivity. Similar to the UNRWA, MSF’s operations in Gaza are deeply embedded within a political reality governed by Hamas. This proximity to Hamas’s power structure, combined with the organization’s refusal to acknowledge the group’s military use of hospitals, calls into question the integrity of MSF’s medical neutrality in the region.

In contrast, Israel continues to strengthen Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure through collaboration with other vetted international organizations that adhere to international standards. While MSF remains a key player in the region, its actions suggest that its role in Gaza is not purely humanitarian—rather, it appears to be part of a broader political narrative aimed at vilifying Israel and exonerating Hamas for its actions.

Conclusion: MSF’s Role in Distorting the Narrative

MSF’s recent actions and its media appearances have raised serious questions about its role in Gaza. By downplaying Hamas’s actions, amplifying disinformation about Israel, and refusing to acknowledge the evidence of Hamas’s military operations within medical facilities, MSF has compromised its once-vaunted status as a neutral humanitarian actor.

The organization’s activities in Gaza reflect a growing trend of political advocacy masquerading as medical neutrality. MSF’s unwillingness to cooperate with Israeli authorities, its refusal to retract false claims, and its role in amplifying Hamas propaganda have eroded its credibility. As a result, MSF is no longer viewed as a purely medical organization, but as an active participant in a political narrative that distorts the truth and undermines international understanding of the Gaza conflict.

Is MSF's work in Gaza truly humanitarian, or is it part of a broader strategy to promote Hamas’s agenda? The evidence suggests that the organization’s role in Gaza is far more politically motivated than it would have the world believe. Through its actions and media appearances, MSF has become a key player in a larger disinformation campaign that distorts the reality on the ground and influences global opinion against Israel.

Summary: “In Arabic and English, Different Messages About MSF Gunman, and the Hacker Defense” (Sept. 5, 2018)

This article examines contradictory public accounts surrounding Hani Majdalawi, a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) worker killed at the Gaza border after Israeli forces said he threw a grenade at them. It focuses on how Majdalawi’s brother, Osama, presented sharply different narratives depending on language and audience.

In English-language media, particularly in a Los Angeles Times article, Osama described Hani as a peaceful, apolitical humanitarian who did not know how to use weapons and whose life centered on work and family. This portrayal framed the killing as suspicious and suggested Israeli authorities were concealing the truth.

By contrast, Arabic-language content attributed to Osama’s Facebook account described Hani as a “martyr” who had personally purchased a weapon and acted independently. This version aligned with posts from other family members and Palestinian social media and was reported by outlets such as Reuters.

After the discrepancy drew attention, the Majdalawi family issued a statement claiming their Facebook accounts had been hacked. They denied knowledge of any militant activity, said they relied only on Israeli accounts they distrusted, and demanded an independent investigation and the return of Hani’s body.

The article notes that the “hacker defense” is a commonly used explanation when controversial or damaging social media posts surface and questions its credibility in this case, highlighting the broader issue of inconsistent messaging across languages in coverage of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the actions and narratives presented by MSF in Gaza raise serious questions about the organization's impartiality and its role in advancing Hamas's propaganda. MSF's refusal to cooperate with Israeli authorities, its uncritical amplification of unverified anti-Israel claims, and its consistent downplaying of Hamas's use of hospitals for military purposes suggest that the organization's neutrality is not as steadfast as it claims. Israel, on the other hand, continues to support the humanitarian needs in Gaza through transparent, accountable efforts, working with organizations that adhere to international standards of neutrality and objectivity. MSF’s continued complicity in spreading falsehoods harms global understanding and undermines the credibility of humanitarian efforts in conflict zones.

NOTES:

• In Arabic and English: Different Messages About MSF, Gunman, and the Hacker Defense
  Published on September 5, 2018 by CAMERA
• Hamas Propaganda by Doctors Without Borders, Courtesy of PBS NewsHour
  Published on December 21, 2023 by CAMERA
• COGAT Official Statement on MSF
  Published on December 30, 2025 by COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories)
• Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Gaza
  Published on December 25, 2025 by The Jerusalem Post
• BBC Again Fails to Provide Information Needed to Understand NGO’s Story
  Published on December 30, 2025 by CAMERA UK
• The Medicalization of Hamas Disinformation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
  Published on November 3, 2025 by CAMERA