Criticism of Médecins Sans Frontières Over Gaza Operations
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an organization known for providing crucial aid in difficult settings, is facing scrutiny for its operations in Gaza. A former leader of the organization has accused it of acting as “accomplices of Hamas,” questioning its commitment to neutrality and humanitarian principles.
Alain d’Esteche, a physician with MSF in the 1980s and later an executive director, expressed concern that the organization has strayed from its core values. He noted, “When I was with MSF, we were surely more neutral than we seem now in Gaza. It feels like they’re aligned with Hamas and anti-Israel sentiments.” This shift, he argues, has distorted MSF’s mission of impartiality.
D’Esteche pointed out that MSF’s recent statements come in the wake of Hamas’ violent actions, including the kidnapping of over 250 people. He highlighted that while MSF condemned the violence against civilians, they also called for an end to Israeli actions without mentioning the hostages taken by Hamas.
Despite denouncing the killings, d’Esteche has observed social media accounts allegedly linked to MSF personnel that appeared to celebrate the violence on October 7. He highlighted that most of the organization’s staff in Gaza are Palestinian, complicating its operations.
He mentioned the organization is compelled to work with Hamas due to the group’s control over essential services in Gaza. “In my time, I would assert that collaborating with such a group was impossible. Today, it’s a different scenario,” he said. D’Esteche believes that MSF risks compromising its integrity by cooperating with what he describes as a terrorist organization.
MSF has also been criticized for its interactions with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization backed by the U.S. and Israel. GHF representative Chaping Fei described MSF’s accusations against them as “false and shameful” and accused them of spreading misinformation.
Recently, Representative Elise Stefanik urged scrutiny of MSF under anti-terrorism laws, arguing that their GHF criticisms mirror Hamas’ propaganda, potentially undermining vital humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
D’Esteche further pointed out MSF’s alignment with Hamas narratives, noting how they quickly condemned an explosion at a hospital, which later investigations revealed was caused by a rogue missile from Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Yet, MSF did not retract its original statement.
Ultimately, D’Esteche suggested that MSF should consider withdrawing from Gaza. “The humanitarian situation wouldn’t drastically change just because MSF leaves,” he stated, asserting that there are enough local doctors to treat patients without the organization’s presence.
Reflecting on MSF’s historical decisions, he reminisced about moments when the organization put ethical considerations above survival. He recalled when MSF chose to withdraw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and also faced tough choices during the Rwandan genocide, stating that staying would have legitimized the violence.
MSF has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding these claims and criticisms.
