Médecins Sans Frontières has suspended its medical activities in Gaza City due to the deteriorating security situation caused by the Israeli offensive. The organisation cited the encirclement of its healthcare facilities by Israeli forces, including advancing tanks within one kilometre of sites, as a primary factor in the decision. The offensive has led to continued airstrikes and an unacceptable level of risk to staff and patients, leaving MSF with no alternative but to halt operations in the area. The suspension affects only Gaza City, with MSF continuing to operate in southern parts of the Gaza Strip.
MSF teams in southern Gaza, including in Khan Younis, continue to provide critical care. Support is being delivered to key Ministry of Health facilities such as Al-Helou and Al-Shifa hospitals, which remain partially functional. The organisation has maintained operations in these areas despite severe shortages of medical staff, supplies, and fuel, which have overwhelmed healthcare systems across the Strip.
In the week prior to the suspension, MSF clinics in Gaza City conducted over 3,640 consultations and treated 1,655 malnourished patients. The organisation also treated individuals with severe trauma injuries, burns, and pregnant women requiring ongoing care. These figures reflect the scale of unmet medical needs in the city. Access to safe drinking water, food, shelter, and medical care remains increasingly restricted for residents.