Médecins Sans Frontières denounces bid to ban charity in UK

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has denounced what it describes as a ‘disinformation campaign’ following attempts by a pro-Israel group to have the charity proscribed under British law.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has urged UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the Charity Commission, and the Fundraising Regulator to investigate and potentially ban MSF. The group’s request is based on allegations regarding the background of two individuals associated with the charity who were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. UKLFI claims one former employee was identified as a ‘martyr commander’ by a militant group, while another was accused by the Israeli military of being a Hamas sniper.

MSF has responded by stating it had no indication of any military involvement by these individuals prior to their deaths and noted that Israeli authorities did not share such information with the organization. MSF emphasized that it would never knowingly employ individuals engaged in military activity, as doing so would endanger staff and patients. The charity expressed concern that such accusations could criminalize impartial medical aid in conflict zones.