Medecins Sans Frontieres has suspended non-critical medical activities at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza after reports of armed men inside the facility and concerns over the movement of weapons, while continuing some lifesaving services.
Medecins Sans Frontieres has halted “non-critical” medical activities at a major hospital in southern Gaza after patients and staff reported the presence of armed men inside the facility and raised concerns about the movement of weapons there.
The organisation’s statement appears to be the first time an international humanitarian group in Gaza has publicly reported armed men inside a hospital or the possible use of such a facility for moving weapons.
The Geneva-based charity said non-essential operations at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis were suspended on January 20 due to concerns about “management of the structure, the safeguarding of its neutrality, and security breaches”.
In recent months, patients and staff had “seen armed men, some masked,” in parts of the hospital compound, MSF said.
The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said it was committed to preventing any armed presence inside hospitals and that legal action would be taken against violators. It suggested armed members of certain Gazan families had recently entered hospitals but did not identify them.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October under a US-backed plan to end the war in Gaza. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violations.
Since the ceasefire, “MSF teams have reported a pattern of unacceptable acts, including the presence of armed men, intimidation, arbitrary arrests of patients, and a recent situation involving suspected movement of weapons,” the organisation said.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 590 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in the territory since the ceasefire began, while Palestinian militants have killed four Israeli soldiers in the same period.
MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, disclosed the suspension at Nasser Hospital in a “frequently asked questions” section on its website about its work in Gaza, last updated on February 11.
The armed men were seen in areas of the hospital compound where MSF does not operate, but their presence, along with suspected weapons transfers, posed serious security risks to patients and staff, it said.
An MSF representative told Reuters the organisation continues to support some critical services at Nasser Hospital, including inpatient and surgical care for certain patients requiring lifesaving treatment.
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