Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has announced that it is suspending its operations at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital due to the presence of “armed men” within the complex.
The humanitarian group said it was pulling out following “a recent situation of suspicion of movement of weapons” in the hospital.
"In recent months, in Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, patients and MSF personnel have seen armed men, some masked, in different areas of the large compound of the hospital,” said a spokesperson for the group.
"This had not been in areas where MSF has activities, but in other parts of the hospital compound.
”With an uptick 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 of suspicion of movement of weapons.
"These incidents pose serious security threats to our teams and patients.”
Per Reuters, MSF will continue to support critical services at the hospital, including surgical care for those with life-threatening injuries, but will pause its wider operations.
Israel has long claimed that Hamas has been using Nasser Hospital as an operating base after several former hostages reported being held there, and MSF’s announcement will likely serve to reinforce Jerusalem’s assertions.
A spokesperson for the Hamas-run Ministry of Health said it would take legal action against any individuals who violated laws against using civilian medical infrastructure for military purposes.
It comes after the former head of another major humanitarian group, Oxfam GB, accused the charity of having a “disproportionate” focus on Israel in its activities.
Dr Halima Begum, who was unanimously voted out of the organisation in December due to what she claims was a "witch hunt" after her year-and-a-half tenure, claimed there was a “toxic antisemitic culture” within the group.
"It is important to obviously work around the rule of law and to maintain that the international rule of law must not be compromised - but we have to show consistency with other crisis that are taking place in the world,” she told Channel 4.
"It always felt that we were disproportionately working around the crisis in Gaza.
"[There was] quite strong push back [within the organisation] when we were not ready yet to use the word 'genocide'.
"To use the word 'genocide', it has to be something we arrive at with consultation and evidence of good legal advice, and to try and use that term before we are ready as an organisation feels quite risky to me."
Oxfam GB told Channel 4: "We abhor antisemitism and vehemently condemn the rise in antisemitic sentiments and hate-fuelled violence.
"We unequivocally and categorically reject any allegation of antisemitism which runs counter to Oxfam’s core humanitarian principles of impartiality and humanity.”
To get more Israel news, click here to sign up for our free Israel Briefing newsletter.