Anger as MSF agrees to Israel’s ‘unreasonable demands’: What to know

EXPLAINERMedical charity will hand over details of its Palestinian staff to Israel, which targeted aid workers during the Gaza genocide.A Palestinian war-wounded man attends a clinic run by MSF, amid shortages of medical supplies, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, December 31, 2025 [Ramadan Abed/Reuters]Published On 26 Jan 2026The medical charity Doctors Without Borders says it will provide Israeli authorities with the personal details of some of its Palestinian and international staff working in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory.But critics warn Israel, whose army has killed more than 1,700 health workers – including 15 employees of the charity, also known by its French initials MSF – during the genocide in Gaza, could use the information to target more humanitarian workers in the besieged Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4MSF urges Israel to let critical aid into Gaza as children freeze to deathlist 2 of 4Palestinians in Gaza say ‘lives will be destroyed’ by Israel’s NGO banlist 3 of 4Which aid groups is Israel banning from Gaza now – and what will it mean?list 4 of 4Gaza babies ‘suffering from severe cold’ as Israel keeps blocking aidend of listMSF said it faced an “impossible choice” to either provide the information or be forced by Israel to suspend its operations.On January 1, Israel withdrew the licences of 37 aid groups, including MSF, the Norwegian Refugee Council and International Rescue Committee and Oxfam, saying they failed to adhere to the new “security and transparency standards”.The measure could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation for people in war-shattered Gaza, as they endure continued attacks.Here’s what you need to know:Why did Israel corner NGOs?Last year, Israel said it would suspend aid groups that did not meet new requirements on sharing detailed information about their employees, funding and operations.According to rules set out by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, the information to be handed over includes passports, CVs and names of family members, including children.It said it would reject organisations it suspected of inciting racism, denying the state of Israel’s existence or the holocaust. It would also ban those it deems as supporting “an armed struggle by an enemy state or a terrorist organisation against the State of Israel”.The measures were roundly condemned, given that Israel has weaponised aid throughout the genocide and falsely accused the United Nations humanitarian agencies of working with Hamas fighters and sympathisers.Israel has also accused MSF – without providing evidence – of employing people who fought with Palestinian groups.MSF said it would “never knowingly” employ people engaging in military activity.Why did MSF agree to Israel’s demands?MSF runs medical services in Gaza as well as the occupied West Bank, providing critical and emergency medical care, including surgical, trauma, and maternal care. It also helped run field hospitals in Gaza during two years of Israeli genocide.In a statement on Saturday, MSF said following “unreasonable demands to hand over personal information about our staff”, it has informed Israeli authorities that, as an exceptional measure, “we are prepared to share a defined list of Palestinian and international staff names, subject to clear parameters with staff safety at its core”.It said MSF’s Palestinian employees agreed with the decision after extensive discussions.“We would share this information with the expectation that it will not negatively affect MSF staff or our medical humanitarian operations,” MSF said. “Since 1 January 2026, all arrivals of our international staff into Gaza have been denied and all our supplies have been blocked.”How have observers reacted?MSF’s decision was condemned by some doctors, activists and campaigners, saying it could endanger Palestinians.A former MSF employee, who requested to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera, “It is extremely concerning, from a duty of care perspective, from a data protection perspective, and from the perspective of the most foundational commitment to humanity, that MSF would make a decision like this.”“Staff are extremely concerned for their wellbeing and futures. Other NGOs have been in uproar, since it further exposes their decision not to concede to Israel’s demands,” they said. “MSF faces profoundly difficult decisions – concede to the demands of a genocidal regime, or refuse and face complete expulsion and an abrupt end to all health activities in the coming weeks. But what is humanitarianism under genocide? There must be alternatives – alternatives that demand a much bolder and more disruptive approach to humanitarianism amid such brutal political decline.”Ghassan Abu Sittah, a British surgeon who has volunteered in Gaza several times, said, “The moral bankruptcy lies in the implication that during a genocide, Palestinians are capable of making free consent. Their employees have as much choice as the Palestinians who knowingly went to their death at the feeding stations to feed their families.”He added that the decision was “in clear contravention” of European Union data protection laws.Hanna Kienzler, a professor of global health at King’s College London, said on X, “MSF, you have withdrawn your teams from war-affected settings before when you felt a mission’s integrity and/or safety were compromised. What makes you think Palestinian staff can be treated like cannon fodder so you can continue your mission in Gaza?”Israel says 23 organisations have agreed to the new registration rules. The others are understood to be weighing their decisions.Al Jazeera contacted Oxfam and is awaiting a response.Gaza has been pulled back from the brink of famine, but needs far more aid to support the population amid continued Israeli attacks – more than 400 people have been killed since a fragile ceasefire came into place in October, large-scale displacement and a healthcare crisis.Food shortages persist.Israel said it would commit to allowing 600 aid trucks per day to enter the Strip, but in reality, only 200 or so are being let in, locals say.